ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Departmental Initiatives

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the (a) budget, (b) expenditure and (c) amount spent on administration was for each area-based initiative for which her Department and its predecessors have been responsible in each year since 1997.

Alun Michael: The information is as follows:
	1. Warm Zones
	DEFRA and DTI jointly contributed £0.5 million each towards the pilot programme of five Warm Zones to run from 2001–04, which brings together a range of public and private sector funding. An independent evaluation of the pilots is being carried out by the Energy Saving Trust on behalf of DEFRA. Final results of the evaluation are expected at the end of 2004.
	2. Market Towns Initiative
	£37 million has been provided to the Regional Development Agencies and the Countryside Agency since 2000 to reinvigorate small rural towns, help them meet the needs of local people and provide access to a wide range of retail, leisure, professional and public services and enables regional partnerships to target towns in their region according to selection criteria agreed regionally. A full assessment of this initiative is under way.
	3. Voluntary and Community Sector Infrastructure Programme
	The Department is to provide £10 million over the period 2003–04 to 2005–06 for capacity building in the voluntary sector in rural areas. During 2003–04 £86,000 has gone toward developing Voluntary and Community Sector consortia across the existing or former shire county areas. The remainder will be spent during 2004–05 and 2005–06 on the delivery of generalist and specialist support to the Sector frontline bodies in rural areas. The first strand will go towards priorities identified by these county consortia, the second will be to increase the uptake of financial entitlements among pensioners in some rural areas and the third will be go towards researching the potential for sustainable income generation through trading by rural voluntary and community organisations.

Horse Passports

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to implement a system of horse passports; and if she will make a statement on her strategy for increasing public awareness of the need for such passports prior to their implementation.

Alun Michael: Legislation on requirements for horse passports came into effect on 30 November 2003. This has been updated by the Horse Passports (England) Regulations 2004, which came into force on 10 June.
	We have worked alongside the horse industry and passport issuing organisations to publicise this requirement. Bearing in mind the diversity of the target audience, our strategy has been to concentrate on specialist and regional media for news and advertising activity, and providing information direct to a full range of horse establishments (including riding stables, retail and service outlets.)

Moorland Fires

Tom Levitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what financial and other support her Department (a) has given, (b) is giving and (c) plans to give to the use of helicopters in fighting moorland fires.

Alun Michael: No support is given to this activity, nor has support been given in the past but officials will review the position as part of a forthcoming review of policy concerning moorland management.

Orchards

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the acreage of (a) apple, (b) pear, (c) plum and (d) cherry orchards is in active production in England; and whether that has varied over the last 10 years.

Alun Michael: The following figures show the total estimated area of orchard fruit from 1994 to 2003 in England and Wales.
	
		Crop area (hectares)
		
			  Apples (dessert and culinary) Pears Plums Cherries 
		
		
			 1994 14,477 3,032 1,669 611 
			 1995 12,797 2,941 1,588 604 
			 1996 11,993 2,739 1,444 592 
			 1997 12,783 2,665 1,672 645 
			 1998 12,506 2,500 1,596 578 
			 1999 12,013 2,360 1,367 591 
			 2000 11,457 2,355 1,213 459 
			 2001 9,970 2,330 1,072 473 
			 2002 8,373 2,041 947 428 
			 2003 7,796 1,742 1,003 381 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Data for 1994 and 1995 relates to England only.
	2. Data for 1994 to 2000 inclusive excludes minor holdings.
	3. The Orchard Fruit Survey is conducted on a sample basis with estimates made for non-responders and those holdings not surveyed.
	Source:
	Orchard Fruit Survey (England and Wales)

Orchards

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much money was paid to English apple growers under the Countryside Stewardship scheme in each of the last 10 years.

Ben Bradshaw: Annual payments to Countryside Stewardship agreement holders, for the restoration of traditional orchards in each of the last 10 years were as follows:
	
		£000
		
			  Amount 
		
		
			 1994 99 
			 1995 133 
			 1996 146 
			 1997 192 
			 1998 220 
			 1999 265 
			 2000 294 
			 2001 343 
			 2002 387 
			 2003 470 
		
	
	These orchards can be apple, pear, cherry, plum or damson, or cider and perry orchards, or cob nut platts.

Water Technologies

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many applications have been received for products to be included in the Enhanced Capital Allowance Scheme for Water Technologies; and how many have been refused.

Margaret Beckett: Since the launch of the scheme, 366 applications for inclusion of products have been received. Of these applications, 147 have been refused inclusion in the scheme, as the products failed to meet the relevant technical specifications.

Water Technologies

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost is to date of the Enhanced Capital Allowance Scheme for Water Technologies.

Margaret Beckett: When the Government announced the introduction of the scheme in 2003, it published estimated Exchequer costs of £20 million in 2003–04, £30 million in 2004–05 and £25 million in 2005–06.
	Actual Exchequer costs will depend upon take-up of the qualifying technology products. It is too early to comment on the actual take-up.

Working Time Directive

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many employees in her Department have (a) signed a formal opt out from and (b) are exempt from the Working Time Directive; and how many employees in her Department have recorded hours, including any accruing on a flexitime basis, in excess of the maximum allowed under the Working Time Directive in the last month for which figures are available.

Alun Michael: Currently 13 staff in DEFRA have signed voluntary agreements to disapply the 48 hour limit set by the Working Time Regulations. The Department has determined that none of its staff is exempt from their provisions. The Department does not have centralised records to show how many staff have worked in excess of the maximum in the last month. The Regulations require that the 48 hour limit is measured over a 17 week period but a flexibility to the Regulations introduced in 1999 removed the requirement for employers to keep records of the hours worked by staff who voluntarily agree to disapply the limit. DEFRA has stated its commitment to keep to an absolute minimum the numbers of staff who regularly work more than 48 hours per week and continually reviews this including staff who are working close to but may not actually exceed the limit.

Wyevale Garden Centre (Birds)

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reason her Department granted a licence to Wyevale Garden Centre near Thornbury to shoot robins; and if she will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 27 May 2004
	The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 makes provision for a system of licensing to allow certain persons to undertake actions against birds which would otherwise be illegal in terms of the Act.
	Section 16(1)(i) gives powers to the Secretary of State to grant licences for the purpose of preserving public health or public or air safety, subject to there being no other satisfactory solution.
	An application was received by the Department to kill a small number of robins that were persistently fouling a cafeteria located within a garden centre. The application was considered by one of the Department's wildlife management advisers and based on the adviser's recommendation the licensing unit granted a licence to allow up to four robins to be killed to preserve public health and safety. An investigation of this case, showing that the shooting of the birds by a pest control company was legal and proper procedures were followed, was published on the DEFRA website (www.defra.gov.uk) on 11 June.

TRANSPORT

Speed Cameras

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library the responses received from safety camera partnership project managers in England and Wales to his Department's letter of 19 December 2003 about the safety camera programme.

David Jamieson: holding answer 23 February 2004
	My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State has today made a Statement to hon. Members on the successful operation of the Safety Camera Programme, and have placed in the Libraries of the House, copies of the Partnerships' replies to my Department's letter of 19 December, regarding their work.

Speed Cameras

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 19 May, Official Report, column 1002W, on speed cameras, at which locations in Humberside he has given permission for (a) fixed and (b) mobile camera sites to be placed; and what criteria he took into account before granting permission for these sites.

David Jamieson: The approved sites are listed as follows. They were assessed against and meet the criteria for proposed new sites set out in the current 'Handbook of rules and guidance for the operation of the national road safety camera programme for England and Wales', a copy of which was placed in the Library in December, including the criteria for the number of collisions over the preceding three years (4 or more collisions involving people being killed or seriously injured (KSIs) or eight or more personal injury collisions (PICs) for fixed speed camera sites, and 2 KSIs or 4 PICs for mobile speed camera sites.
	
		
			 Fixed Cameras Killed and Seriously Injured (KSI) collisions in the preceding three years Personal Injury Collisions (PIC) in the preceding three years 
		
		
			 Clough Road 5 12 
			 Spring Bank West 4 28 
			 B1239 North of Preston 4 6 
			 A1079BeverleyRoad 6 6 
		
	
	
		
			 Mobile Cameras KSI casualties in the preceding three years PIC collisions in the preceding three years 
		
		
			 Greenwood Avenue 4 13 
			 A614 North of Shiptonthorpe  Roundabout 3 6 
			 Ashby Road, near Pittwood 3 22 
			 Luneburg Way 2 7 
			 Bricknell Avenue 2 4 
			 Anlaby Road 2 20 
			 Cromwell Road, Grimsby 2 6 
			 Saltshouse Road 2 3 
			 Queensway 2 22 
			 A161 Belton 2 6 
			 A 1077 Barton 2 5 
			 A614, south of Shiptonthorpe 2 1 
			 Pelham Road, Immingham 2 11

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his assessment is of the current state of Mr. Sharon's plan to move out of Gaza and the effect of that on the road map.

Bill Rammell: I welcome the 6 June announcement of approval in principle by the Israeli Cabinet for the removal of settlements in Gaza and four from the West Bank. I hope that preparations for withdrawal will be carried out without delay and that implementation swiftly follows. Withdrawal of settlements would be in line with Israel's commitments under Phase One of the roadmap.

Libya

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress in UK relations with Libya.

Bill Rammell: Libya's decisions to formally accept responsibility for the Lockerbie bombing, renounce terrorism and take action to dismantle its Weapons of Mass Destruction development programmes opened the way for my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, to meet Colonel Qadhafi on 25 March.
	The Government are building on this contact to develop further our political, cultural and commercial ties, while continuing to seek progress on the difficulties that remain between us.

Saudi Arabia

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent advice he has given to British nationals resident in Saudi Arabia.

Bill Rammell: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises British nationals resident in Saudi Arabia that if they choose to remain in Saudi Arabia they should take all necessary steps to protect their safety and should make sure they have confidence in their individual security arrangements. They should maintain a high level of vigilance, particularly in public places frequented by foreigners. They should adopt a low profile and avoid public gatherings, which could lead to disorder. They should remember that Islamic law is strictly enforced in Saudi Arabia.
	Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel advice makes clear that there is a continuing high threat of terrorism in Saudi Arabia. Following terrorist attacks in April and May 2004, we continue to believe that terrorists are planning further attacks against Westerners and places associated with Westerners.
	The full test of our advice is available at: www. fco.gov.uk. We keep our travel advice under close review.

Saudi Arabia

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what account the Government takes of the changing (a) security and (b) political situation in Saudi Arabia when making decisions on arms export licences; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: Export licence applications for Saudi Arabia, as for all countries, are assessed against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Criteria, taking account of the circumstances at the time and other announced Government policies. In assessing export licence applications, the Government take account of all available and relevant information.

Cyprus

Syd Rapson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the (a) Turkish and (b) Greek Governments about the future of Cyprus.

Denis MacShane: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Warrington, North. The Government, at the 26 April General Affairs and External Relations Council in Brussels and the 17 May UK-Turkey summit, and via our Ambassadors in Ankara and Athens, have been in regular contact with the Turkish and Greek Governments following the 24 April referendums on the UN Secretary-General's Cyprus settlement plan.

Cyprus

John Lyons: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Turkish Government on protecting cultural sites in Turkish-occupied Cyprus.

Denis MacShane: The Government attaches importance to the protection of cultural sites throughout Cyprus. We urge the authorities on both sides of the island to co-operate for the protection and preservation of Cyprus's cultural heritage for the benefit of all Cypriots.

Aung San Suu Kyi

Doug Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the regime in Burma about human rights and the treatment of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Mike O'Brien: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend for Edinburgh, North and Leith (Mr. Lazarowicz).

EU Enlargement

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the enlargement of the European Union on 1 May.

Denis MacShane: The enlargement of the EU on 1 May was a historic event. It will make a lasting contribution to peace, stability and prosperity across the continent.

St. Helena

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make an official visit to St. Helena.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has no immediate plans to visit St. Helena.

European Constitution

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on negotiations on the European Constitution.

Denis MacShane: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary took part in a further round of negotiations with European partners yesterday in Brussels. I understand that he intends to make a statement to the House tomorrow.

European Constitution

David Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a list of the changes to the draft European Constitution demanded by the Government representative on the Convention on the Future of Europe.

Denis MacShane: Throughout the 18 months of the Convention on the Future of Europe the British Government representative, the right hon. Mr. Hain, submitted many amendments, comments and suggestions to different versions of the draft Constitution as it developed. The written amendments can be found on the Convention website at: www.european-convention.eu.int

Afghanistan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements have been made for international supervision and monitoring of the forthcoming elections in Afghanistan.

Mike O'Brien: The Joint Elections Management Body (JEMB), comprised of the Afghan Transitional Administration (ATA) and UN representatives, and chaired by Interior Minister Jalali, is responsible for election preparations. As part of its electoral support plans, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) intends to establish an 'Observation Office' to facilitate national and international election observation. The Office is intended to support information exchange between Afghan and international observers and other interested parties; provide briefing packages for observers; and develop training materials for Afghan observers.
	We are currently discussing with EU partners and the European Commission a range of measures to support the elections, including deployment of monitors and advisers. There are also likely to be observer teams from a number of other countries. Work is also in hand to develop domestic monitoring capacity. Afghan civil society organisations involved in this have formed a 'Core Group' to coordinate domestic monitoring activities.

Afghanistan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the extent of the reform of the Afghan National Army since 2002.

Mike O'Brien: The creation of multi-ethnic and accountable armed forces, providing the elected Government with the institutional means to exercise their authority, is one of the key challenges for the Afghan Government and international community in post-conflict Afghanistan. Considerable progress has been made, and the Afghan National Army (ANA) is now about 10,000 strong. In recent months the training of officers and soldiers has been accelerated after the building of further capacity at the military training centre in Kabul and a total of 1,800 additional troops are now able to undergo training at any one time.
	International support in this area is led by the United States. UK military forces stationed within the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) are providing training and mentoring for Afghan NCOs. In the next few months the ANA will start to establish permanent bases in cities outside Kabul, with the first to be established in Kandahar. This follows successful deployment of ANA battalions in March and April 2004 in response to unrest in the Herat and Faryab regions.

Biological Materials (US Exports)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence he has collated on US exports of biological materials between February 1985 and November 1990.

Denis MacShane: None, other than information published by the United States Administration.

China

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the actions of the Chinese Government in respect of the 15th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre.

Bill Rammell: We are concerned by reports from Human Rights NGOs that at least 12 dissidents were put under house arrest or surveillance in the run up to this anniversary. Those under house arrest included the leader of the Tiananmen Mothers Group, Ding Zilin.
	The UK raised the harassment of dissidents, including those linked to the events in Tiananmen Square, most recently at the May round of our human rights dialogue with China.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  when he will reply to the letter to him dated 26 April from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Yakubu Kabiz;
	(2)  when he will reply to the letter to him dated 26 April from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to H S Khan.

Chris Mullin: My right hon. Friend's letter refers to documentary evidence at appeal, which is collated by the Immigration Appellate Authority. The letter has been transferred to the Department of Constitutional Affairs as the Department responsible for the Immigration Appellate Authority. My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs (Mr. Lammy) will reply to my right hon. Friend.

Cuba

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking to encourage the US Administration to remove its sanctions against Cuba.

Bill Rammell: The UK prefers a policy of constructive engagement and dialogue with Cuba, and we make our objections known to US policy every year at the United Nations General Assembly. On 4 November 2003, we again voted to adopt the resolution on the necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the USA against Cuba.

Guantanamo Bay

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Pendle (Mr. Gordon Prentice) on 26 May 2004, Official Report, column 1634W, on Guantanamo Bay, on how many occasions, and in respect of how many individuals concerns were raised with the US authorities; and on what dates.

Chris Mullin: We are not in a position to provide the detailed information requested. This information is withheld under Exemption 12 of Part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. The Data Protection Act also prevents us from disclosing personal data on individual cases under Exemption 15 of the Code.
	We are very conscious of the importance of seeking to safeguard the welfare of all British nationals detained at Guantanamo Bay. Officials at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are in touch with the families of the British detainees, who are advised of the welfare visits by British officials to Guantanamo Bay.

Iraq

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 30 January 2004, Official Report, column 581W, on Iraq, what the basis is of the Government's understanding that the originators of the intelligence that Iraq sought the supply of uranium from Africa discussed the issue with the International Atomic Energy Agency shortly before the International Atomic Energy Agency Report of 7 March 2003.

Denis MacShane: As stated in the answer my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary gave to my hon. Friend, together with subsequent answers given to my hon. Friend on this issue, I am withholding further details of intelligence exchanges with allies under Exemption 1(c) of Part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Iraq

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to whom the Coalition Provisional Authority is accountable.

Bill Rammell: The role of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) was recognised and further defined in resolution 1483 of 22 May 2003, and its authority is set out in CPA Regulation No 1, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House. Resolution 1483 will continue to operate until 30 June, when the handover of authority to the Iraqi Interim Government will be complete and the CPA will dissolve. Security Council Resolution 1546 of 8 June sets out the transition arrangements for after 30 June.

Iraq

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to whom the Iraq Survey Group is accountable.

Denis MacShane: The Iraq Survey Group forms part of the Joint Task Force Iraq, which reports through the chain of command to General Abizaid and upwards to the US Secretary of State for Defense. The US Director Central Intelligence has overall responsibility for the search for weapons of mass destruction. The British element of the Group has a national link to the Secretary of State for Defence through the Permanent Joint Headquarters at Northwood and the UK Ministry of Defence.

Iraq

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the Iraq Survey Group to complete its work; and what criteria will be applied when deciding whether the work of the Iraq Survey Group is complete.

Denis MacShane: There is no set timetable for Iraq Survey Group activities. The Group will continue its work for as long as appropriate. It is not possible to say when the Iraq Survey Group will have completed its task.

Sudan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the Independent Expert mandated by the 23 April UN Commission on Human Rights decision on Sudan to be appointed.

Chris Mullin: The UN Economic and Social Council has to endorse the decision of the Commission on Human Rights before an Independent Expert can be appointed. We have pressed for an early decision of the Council and consultations are under way. Once the decision is approved, the Chairman of the Commission on Human Rights will then be in a position to appoint an individual to the post.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Alcohol Licences

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many premises have a licence to serve alcohol all night, broken down by local authority.

Richard Caborn: Alcohol licences are granted by licensing justices and, where available, statistics are broken down by petty sessions areas and not by local authority areas. Generally, no justices' licences permit the sale or consumption of alcohol all night. This is the effect of section 60 of the Licensing Act 1964 which details the permitted hours for the sale and supply of alcohol from licensed premises. There are however four exceptions. Firstly, all on-licensed premises are able to sell alcohol all night on each New Year's Eve unless the premises are subject to a restriction order. Secondly, the 1964 Act does not prohibit or restrict the sale or supply of alcohol to, or its consumption by, any person in any licensed premises where he is residing, or the supply for consumption by any private friends of such a person who are being entertained by that person at his own expense. Thirdly, the 1964 Act does not prohibit or restrict the supply of alcohol for consumption on the premises to persons employed there for the purposes of the business carried on by the holder of a justices' licence if the alcohol is supplied at the expense of their employer or the person carrying on or in charge of the business on the premises. Fourthly, under section 74 of the 1964 Act, justices of the peace on application from premises situated in the immediate neighbourhood of a public market or place where people follow a lawful trade or calling, may grant an order adding, either generally or for such days as may be specified in the order such hours as may be so specified, to the permitted hours in those premises. These are commonly called "general orders of exemption". There are no centrally held statistics on the numbers or dispersal of general orders of exemption. However, the number permitting the sale or supply of alcohol all night in connection with a public market (for example, Smithfields Meat Market in London) is believed to be very small.

WALES

A483

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has held with National Assembly for Wales Secretaries concerning improvements to the A483.

Peter Hain: Responsibility for the A483 Trunk Road rests, in Wales, with the National Assembly, and in England with the Highways Agency. Officials from these two bodies meet regularly to discuss improvements.
	A public consultation was held last year, on a Route Management Strategy for the A5/A483 Trunk Roads. Further consultation is planned towards the end of this year, on the Pant—Llanymynech by-pass, and it is hoped to award the contract for this work at around the same time.

Administration Budget

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made towards the 5 per cent. reduction in real terms in his Department's administration budget by 2008, announced by the Chancellor in the House on 17 March 2004, Official Report, column 331.

Peter Hain: The real terms reduction of 5 per cent. or more will be a central feature of the public spending settlements for 2006–08 to be announced in detail later this year.

Departmental Staff

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people have left employment in his Department because of (a) anxiety, (b) stress, (c) depression and (d) other mental health reasons in each year since 1997.

Peter Hain: Since the establishment of the Wales Office on 1 July 1999 there have been no departures by staff from the Wales Office because of anxiety, stress, depression or mental health reasons.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

India

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will cease his Department's funding of the state's deregulatory Centre for Good Governance in Andhra Pradesh, India.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The Centre for Good Governance (CGG) was set up in 2001 by the Government of Andhra Pradesh (AP) to assist it in developing and implementing its governance reform programme. The programme has many strands, and since its inception, the Centre for Good Governance has undertaken work on a wide range of issues. Highlights include a thorough assessment of public expenditure management systems, and an action plan for their improvement. The Centre has also studied Citizens' Charters and how they can be effectively used to improve services. Other work includes analysing corruption-prone processes, and assisting the Government to develop a broad anti-corruption strategy. CGG is currently completing a study on local bodies, and how their effectiveness can be improved. In addition to assisting the AP Government, the Centre is working with the Government of India, particularly in the areas of civil service reform and e-governance.
	Recognising the importance of governance to tackling poverty and achieving the Millennium Development Goals, DFID has committed up to £5.9 million for the Government of Andhra Pradesh's governance reform programme; this lasts until March 2005. The assistance is provided in a flexible way so that it can respond to the state Government's evolving agenda. Regular discussions are held on the work programme of the Centre to ensure that it is line with the Government's priorities.

India

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will end the arrangement which places the Implementation Secretariat of the Andhra Pradesh state's Public Enterprises Department under the control of the Adam Smith Institute.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: The Implementation Secretariat is responsible for taking forward the Government of Andhra Pradesh's public enterprise reform programme. It has always been under the control of the state government, and is headed by an Andhra Pradesh government official. The Implementation Secretariat reviews the options for state enterprises, and recommends their closure, restructuring or sale; it then implements the state government's decision.
	Adam Smith International (ASI) won a competitive tender to provide advisory and administrative support to the Government of Andhra Pradesh. In the first stage, as well as providing consultancy advice, ASI also engaged the local consulting firms and staff for the Implementation Secretariat. In 2003, the Implementation Secretariat itself took over these administrative responsibilities. DFID is discussing its programme, including assistance to public enterprise reform, with the new government, to ensure that it reflects their priorities and makes the most effective contribution to their efforts to tackle poverty.

India

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on the viability of his Department's commitments entered into as a result of the Vision 2020 document produced by McKinsey & Co for Andhra Pradesh's Chief Minister Naidu.

Mr. Gareth Thomas: Vision 2020, published in 1999, set out the vision of the Government of Andhra Pradesh for development in the state. It committed the government to a number of goals, including the eradication of poverty and universal primary education, and included many ideas and approaches about how these goals could be achieved. It was not however, a strategy or plan that could be funded. The projects which DFID is supporting in Andhra Pradesh were each based on requests for assistance, and were designed and agreed only after detailed appraisals and discussions with government. They are regularly reviewed to assess progress and agree any changes.
	DFID has a wide-ranging programme in Andhra Pradesh. It includes both support to the government in implementing cross-cutting reforms and support for programmes providing basic services such as primary schooling and treatment of Tuberculosis. DFID also has two large programmes—AP Rural Livelihoods (APRLP) and AP Urban Services for the Poor (APUSP)—which aim to make government more responsive to the needs of poor people, and to encourage the involvement of poor communities in decisions which affect their lives. APRLP works in five of the poorest rural areas, and has a central focus on agriculture, on which most poor people depend. APUSP works in 32 towns, and as well as improving government's services, it finances new infrastructure in slum areas, for example to address drinking water and sanitation needs. Both projects include components to help poor families to make a better living by developing new opportunities to earn income, for example through skills training.
	The new state government of Andhra Pradesh is setting out its priorities for development and poverty reduction. Discussions have started on how DFID can most effectively support government's efforts to tackle poverty, and this dialogue will include reviewing existing projects to see whether any changes are required.

Ministerial Travel

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the cost to public funds of travel expenses incurred by Ministers in his Department in (a) domestic journeys and (b) journeys abroad was in each year since 1997.

Hilary Benn: In respect of overseas travel by Ministers, since 1999 the Government has published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. These reports give information reaching back to 1995–96. Information for 2003–04 will be published in due course.
	For domestic travel the information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	All Ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.

Palestinian Authority

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance his Department has provided to enable the Palestinian Authority to prepare for elections.

Hilary Benn: The Government welcomes the recent announcement by the Palestinian Authority (PA) to hold municipal elections between August 2004 and mid-2005. The European Commission has committed €10 million to enable the PA to prepare for these and other elections. 17 per cent. of this expenditure is attributable to the UK. DFID has no plans to provide additional bilateral financial assistance for elections.

Rome Declaration on Humanitarian Aid

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress is being made on the Rome Declaration on Humanitarian Aid.

Hilary Benn: The UK is one of 23 members of the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD)'s Development Assistance Committee (DAC), which provides a means for donors to share experience and develop best practice in aid management. In February 2003, an OECD High Level Forum in Rome agreed a series of Good Practice Papers on the Harmonisation of Donor Practices for Effective Aid Delivery. With support from DFID and other agencies, the DAC has been developing means to measure progress in this work and a report will be published in December 2004.
	The UK Harmonisation Action Plan was also agreed in February 2003, and over the last year DFID has been at the forefront of advocating harmonisation, both by testing out new approaches and by working collectively with others to change ways of working. This should significantly reduce the burden imposed on partner countries by the wide range of procedures that donors now apply to very similar tasks in delivering their assistance, for example during audit and evaluation.
	As co-chair of the Strategic Partnership for Africa (SPA), DFID has also supported efforts to improve donor harmonisation. The 2003 survey indicated that alignment with national Poverty Reduction Strategies was still falling short. However, work is now being carried out jointly by SPA donors to identify how to make faster progress.

Rwanda

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what (a) action is being taken and (b) aid is planned to be offered by the United Kingdom Government to help Rwanda reach the targets set in the memorandum of understanding; and what aid is being offered from other western countries, with particular reference to the United States of America.

Hilary Benn: DFID's programme of support to Rwanda is set out in the Rwanda Country Assistance Plan. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) complements this, providing the political framework in which the Country Assistance Plan is set.
	The United Kingdom Government is committed to helping Rwanda reach the targets set out in these documents. Officials from DFID work closely with colleagues in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and with other donor Governments, to ensure our approach is consistent and focused on helping the poor of Rwanda.
	The UK/Rwanda MoU was first signed in 1999 and is renewed on an annual basis. It underpins the UK/Rwanda bilateral relationship, and provides a sound basis for constructive dialogue and assessment of progress on political developments.
	The UK Government maintains a regular dialogue with the Government of Rwanda and has gained their trust and respect. The UK's strong relationship with the Government of Rwanda enables us to have open and frank discussions on a range of issues, including performance against targets set out in the Memorandum of Understanding.
	The UK Government remains committed to reducing poverty in Rwanda and to the targets set out in the Government of Rwanda's Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS). The MoU sets out Rwanda's commitment to this and reaffirms the UK Government's long-term commitment to poverty reduction in Rwanda.
	DFID has committed £42 million for poverty reduction in 2004–05 and £47 million in 2005–06. Two thirds of the money—equating approximately to all the salaries for all the teachers in Rwanda—is given direct to the Government of Rwanda in the form of Poverty Reduction Budget Support.
	The United States of America, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has committed $46 million (£25 million) to Rwanda through both bilateral $36 million/£19.5 million) and non-bilateral programmes ($10 million/£5.5 million). Over half of the US programme ($29 million/£16 million) is committed to Health and HIV/AIDS programmes, $13.5 million (£7 million) to agriculture, food security and economic growth and $3.5 million (£2 million) to democracy and governance programmes.
	Other bilateral donors active in Rwanda include Switzerland, Sweden, Holland, Germany, Belgium, France and Canada. Together they have committed an estimated £61.5 million to Rwanda in 2004. This makes the UK the largest bilateral donor in Rwanda. Multilateral donors, notably the European Union to which the UK provides an annual contribution, are also present in Rwanda. The EU has committed approximately £74.7 million to Rwanda in 2004.
	To ensure that aid given to Rwanda is used in the most effective way, all bilateral and multilateral donors are working to harmonise their approaches and develop complementary programmes.

Sudan

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if his Department will (a) increase pledges to and (b) ensure more supplies are delivered and pre-positioned in Darfur, Sudan; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: During my visit to Darfur last week I announced a further allocation of £15 million for humanitarian response to the situation in Darfur. This takes the total DFID humanitarian response to the crisis to £34.5 million since September 2003. The UK is the second largest bilateral donor in Darfur. We are urging other donors to make significant contributions and will keep our own levels of funding under review.
	DFID is working closely with the UN and other operational agencies and donors to ensure that the delivery of assistance is increased as more areas become accessible and as operational capacity on the ground increases. This includes supporting the World Food Programme to pre-position foodstuffs in the areas likely to be cut off during the rainy season.
	I refer the hon. Member for Banbury to the Statement I made in the House on 9 June 2004, Official Report, column 275, on my return from Sudan.

Sudan

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what representations his Department has made (a) bilaterally to the Government of Sudan and (b) through the international community, with particular reference to the EU, to ensure resources are made immediately available for the rapid deployment of the ceasefire monitoring mechanism in Darfur; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: The UK has been heavily engaged in ensuring an effective deployment of the African Union (AU) Ceasefire Monitoring Mechanism.
	I have emphasised to the Government of Sudan on several occasions the importance of swift agreement to and full co-operation with the African Union Monitoring Mechanism. In particular, during the visit of the Sudanese Foreign Minister to London on 11 May, during a telephone conversation with the Sudanese Foreign Minister on 20 May and during my visit to Sudan on 6–8 June. In addition, the Joint DFID/FCO Sudan Unit is in almost daily contact with the Government of Sudan in London and Khartoum and have been reiterating these messages.
	Following agreement of the AU proposals on 28 May, the UK committed £2 million to the mission and one observer. EU member states last week approved an EC proposal to provide the AU mission with 12 million euros (c. £8 million) from the Africa Peace Facility, which is funded from the European Development Fund. This will cover over half of the estimated costs. DFID have urged other donors to support the AU mission. The EU and member states are also contributing six observers to be integrated with each of the six AU observer teams (including the observer for the UK), a representative on the political-level Joint Commission and the Deputy Chairman of the Ceasefire Commission.
	Effective deployment of the African Union Monitoring Mechanism will play a critical part in improving the security situation in Darfur. I met with the first group of monitors in El Fasher on 7 June. I refer the hon. Member for Banbury to the statement I made to the House on 9 June 2004, Official Report, column 275 on my return from Sudan.

Sudan

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if his Department will maintain pressure on the Government of Sudan to permit only the voluntary return of displaced people and refugees in relation to Darfur; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: During my visit to Sudan I raised with the Government of Sudan, including the first vice-President, the urgent need for the Government of Sudan to rein in the Janjaweed and other militias, to condemn these acts of violence and to provide adequate protection for displaced people. The UK is fully involved in the situation in Darfur and will continue to press the Government of Sudan to take all steps to ensure the security of its citizens, including by ensuring that any return of internally displaced persons (IDP)s and refugees is voluntary and with adequate protection. I was told by the Sudanese Government that IDPs and refugees would not return unless there was adequate security.
	I refer the hon. Member for Banbury to the Statement I made in the House on 9 June 2004, Official Report, column 275, on my return from Sudan.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Nick Gibb: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what guidelines are issued to magistrates on the consequences of a youth breaking an antisocial behaviour order.

Christopher Leslie: A sentencing guideline for a breach of an ASBO has been produced for use in the Adult court by the Magistrate's Court Sentencing Guidelines Working Party. However, due to the specific legislative and other considerations applicable when dealing with youths, these guidelines cannot be readily applied within the youth court.
	The Criminal Justice Act 2003 provided for the creation of the recently formed Sentencing Guidelines Council, and it will fall to them to determine in due course, whether Youth court guidelines should be provided. The Judicial Studies Board (JSB) is planning to undertake a review of its Youth Court Bench Book during this financial year and will consider whether information and guidance on the breach of an ASBO could be included.
	Statutory responsibility for the training of magistrates currently rests with the 42 independent Magistrates Courts' Committees (MCCs). The JSB has provided training materials to MCCs on ASBOs, which encourage through case studies, discussion of the issues arising in sentencing on the breach of orders, including those in the Youth court. In addition, in February 2004, the JSB advised MCCs that it expected every magistrate to receive a minimum of two hours face to face training on ASBOs by the end of this financial year.
	In court lay magistrates sit with their justices' clerk or a legal adviser. The justices' clerk has a statutory duty to provide advice to the magistrates on questions of law, practice and procedure. This will include advice on applying any case law and relevant Court of Appeal judgments when making decisions on sentence.

Fixed-Term Parliaments

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether the Secretary of State has considered, as part of the Government's programme of constitutional reform, the introduction of fixed-term parliaments; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: No.

Judges (Ethnic Minorities)

Tom Cox: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many (a) men and (b) women from ethnic minorities sit as judges in the High Court.

Christopher Leslie: There are at present no High Court judges who declare themselves as from minority ethnic communities.

Opinion Polls

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what (a) regulations and (b) code of standards govern the opinion polling industry.

Stephen Timms: I have been asked to reply.
	The Data Protection Act 1998 applies to market research and opinion polling. Professionally conducted market research and opinion polling should be carried out in accordance with the Code of Conduct and Guidelines of the Market Research Society.

Opinion Polls

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what steps the Department is taking to ensure standards of accuracy and integrity in opinion polling.

Stephen Timms: I have been asked to reply.
	These are matters for the industry's professional body, the Market Research Society, to address in the first instance.

Opinion Polls

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans his Department has to undertake an investigation into the methods used by polling organisations to gather, use and present information.

Stephen Timms: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department has no such plans.

DEFENCE

1958 Nuclear Tests

Paul Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent representations he has received on the retrieval and assessment of the radiation from badges worn by participants in the Technical Services Forward Group during the nuclear tests in August and September 1958; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: holding answer 14 June 2004
	The Ministry of Defence has received one representation on this issue in the last six months, which was a letter on 6 January 2004 from my hon. Friend the Member for Kirkcaldy (Dr. Moonie) on behalf of one of his constituents.

Afghanistan

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress with the work of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.

Adam Ingram: Under the terms of the United Nations' Security Council Resolution 1510, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) continues to assist the Afghan Transitional Authority in maintaining security in Afghanistan, and the United Nations and other international civilian organizations engaged in humanitarian and reconstruction work. Work is in hand in NATO to expand the ISAF across Afghanistan.

Alvis plc

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what assurances General Dynamics has given regarding the continuance of (a) Alvis plc's UK-based and (b) Alvis Hagglund's development and production programmes and capabilities;
	(2)  what light and medium armour capabilities are produced by General Dynamics Corporation and its subsidiaries; what discussions have been held with General Dynamics concerning Alvis plc's Future Rapid Effects System activities; and if he will make a statement on the defence implications of the Office of Fair Trading's investigation into the proposed takeover of Alvis plc by General Dynamics Corporation.

Adam Ingram: General Dynamics Corporation (GDC) and its subsidiaries produce a full suite of light and medium armour capabilities. Since the GDC offer to acquire Alvis plc was announced there have been several high-level discussions between the Ministry of Defence and GDC. These discussions covered both Alvis plc and the Future Rapid Effects System programme. On 3 June 2004 the Alvis plc Board recommended to its shareholders their acceptance of an offer from BAE Systems to acquire the company. GDC subsequently announced on 4 June 2004 that it would not revise its offer. The GDC offer for Alvis plc formally lapsed on 7 June 2004.

Army Medal Office

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to delay the closure of the Army Medal Office until the end of the 2006–07 financial year.

Ivor Caplin: No. I am convinced that the investment of effort now to modernise medals delivery through the formation of a Joint Medal Office linked to the new Joint Personnel Administration system, will be to the ultimate benefit of veterans, and serving personnel.

Commonwealth War Graves

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with (a) the Israeli Government and (b) the Palestinian authority regarding the protection of Commonwealth war graves.

Ivor Caplin: Neither my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, nor the Secretary of State for Defence has had discussions on this subject with the Israeli Government. However, the Consul-General in Jerusalem has raised the vandalism of the Commonwealth War Graves at Gaza War Cemetery on Sunday 9 May with the Palestinian authority, which has undertaken to investigate.
	The Commonwealth War Graves Commission views the recent vandalism at Gaza War Cemetery as an isolated incident. Officials at local level within the Israeli Government and the Palestinian authority have given the Commission assurances that there is continuing respect for their cemeteries among the local population.

Defence Medical Services

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in what circumstances service personnel who have had private medical treatment or diagnosis owing to delays in receiving such treatment and diagnosis from the Defence Medical Services will be refunded the cost of such treatment.

Ivor Caplin: The Defence Medical Services are responsible for the provision of clinical care to military personnel. Secondary care for military personnel is usually provided through routine treatment within the national health service unless there are operational reasons to do otherwise. In such cases, accelerated access to diagnosis and treatment can be provided at NHS hospitals that host the Ministry of Defence Hospital Units. An initial decision on the most appropriate care pathway is made at the time of referral, and is reviewed once the diagnosis is confirmed. Occasionally, use is made of private healthcare providers to enable Service personnel to be returned to operational fitness quickly if it is anticipated that treatment within the NHS would fail to meet an urgent operational requirement. However, no financial provision is made for reimbursing the cost of diagnosis and treatment if individuals choose to seek private medical care.

Explosion Mitigation Technology

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the use of explosion mitigation technology in the fuel tanks of armoured fighting vehicles used by British forces.

Adam Ingram: In the main, the armoured vehicles used by the British forces rely on the protection afforded to the fuel tanks by the vehicle's armour and the positioning of tanks themselves within the vehicle. Some of the newer armoured vehicles currently in service, however, have additional measures incorporated in their design, with the intention of reducing the risk of fire and explosion in the fuel tanks.
	In addition, since the acceptance and implementation of the current NATO Single Fuels Policy by the United Kingdom in 1991, all operational vehicles procured will run on diesel or kerosene type fuels which are inherently safer than gasoline. This in itself mitigates against the threat of fire, because of the reduction in the flammability of the fuel. For older vehicles, conversion programmes have been undertaken where this represents a cost-effective option for the remaining life of the fleet.

FRES Programme

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the strategic purpose is of the Future Rapid Effects System (FRES) programme; if he will make a statement on the range of technologies required for FRES; how many of the technologies needed for the FRES programme will be UK-sourced; what importance he places on FRES being a British developed and manufactured capability; and what role (a) Alvis Hagglund and (b) Alvis plc are expected to have in the FRES programme.

Adam Ingram: The Future Rapid Effects System will provide a family of network-capable armoured vehicles as part of a coherent, effective and highly deployable medium-weight force, able to operate across the full spectrum of conflict, but with a significantly improved rapid intervention capability to prevent escalation of conflict and more protracted military commitment. However, the overall utility of FRES is much broader than just rapid intervention, as the vehicles will fulfil a wide range of combat and combat support roles.
	There are a number of technologies that are under consideration, and early work will focus on maximising our understanding of their risks and maturity levels before we determine what is, and what is not, suitable for FRES.
	FRES provides excellent opportunities for the United Kingdom industry to engage in the programme in line with the Defence Industrial Policy. However, until we have a better understanding of the FRES capability, and the potential solutions for providing it, the industrial arrangements must remain flexible in order to avoid prejudicing future options.

HMS Caroline

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made in securing the retention of HMS Caroline in Belfast once decommissioned by the Royal Navy.

Ivor Caplin: After consideration by the Ministry of Defence, it has been decided to retain HMS Caroline for the foreseeable future as the RN Reserve Training Centre in Belfast. HMS Caroline will remain under the ownership of the Warship Support Agency who fund the maintenance of the ship.

Iraq

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the operation of the concessionary postal service for forces personnel in Iraq.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon. Member to my Written Statement of 27 February 2004, Official Report, column 70WS, and subsequent answers of 5 March 2004, Official Report, column 1155W, to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock), 1 April 2004, Official Report, column 1605W, to the hon. Member for Mid-Norfolk (Mr. Simpson) and 5 May 2004, Official Report, column 1527W, to the hon. Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Randall).

Iraq

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many sites where it is known that cluster bombs were dropped by UK forces in Iraq have been cleared; how many sites await clearance; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: To date, around 1.1 million individual items of unexploded ordnance have been cleared in the Multinational Division (South East) Area of Operations. This figure includes around 6,000 items of submunitions, though it is not possible to break down this figure into type of submunition or the county from which individual submunitions originated.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements are being made governing the responsibility for prisoners currently detained by the occupation forces in Iraq when powers of sovereignty are returned to Iraq on 1 July 2004.

Adam Ingram: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 8 June 2004, Official Report, columns 292–93W, to the right hon. and learned Member for North-East Fife (Sir Menzies Campbell).

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether British Service personnel have used stress postures as a technique of interrogation in Iraq.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 20 May 2004
	The use of stress positions is not a permitted interrogation technique and is therefore not permitted in Iraq.

Overseas Dentists

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the oral statement of the Minister of State, Department of Health hon. Member for Doncaster, Central (Ms Winterton), of 11 May 2004, Official Report, column 22WH, how many overseas dentists he expects to start working in the armed services; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: The Ministry of Defence employs two types of dentist—those who are part of the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, and Civilians employed as Civilian Dental Practitioners (CDPs) or as locums, who work within the Defence Dental Agency (DDA).
	In order to become a military dentist, individuals have to satisfy the nationality requirement to join the armed forces. This requires that applicants must be UK, Commonwealth or Irish Republic nationals. Therefore recruitment of Military dentists from outside of these areas does not take place.
	The DDA does however recruit some civilian and locum dentists from the European Economic Area (EEA) and other countries, in addition to those from the UK, Commonwealth and the Irish Republic.

Prisons

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) men and (b) women held in British-run military and civilian prisons in Iraq have been charged with (i) criminal and (ii) military offences; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: As of 10 June 2004 the United Kingdom were holding in Iraq 78 male internees no female internees and no detainees at the Divisional Temporary Detention Centre in Shiabah. Individuals are classified as internees if they pose or are judged likely to pose a threat to Coalition Forces. They are classified as detainees if they are suspected of a criminal act under Iraqi law. Detainees are immediately handed over to the Iraq Police Service.

Procurement

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how he takes account of the sustainability of the UK defence industrial base when making decisions on defence acquisitions for UK forces.

Adam Ingram: The Government's Defence Industrial Policy, published in October 2002, seeks to provide the armed forces with the equipment which they require at best value for money for the taxpayer while sustaining a healthy and globally competitive defence industry. The factors that we take into account when making acquisition decisions are set out in Tables 1 and 2 of the Policy and, taken together, enable the best value for money solution to be identified. These factors include consideration of the impact on long-term value for money and on industrial capabilities which it is desirable to retain in the United Kingdom industrial base not only for defence reasons but also owing to the high value which they bring to the industrial economy. Copies of the Policy, together with detailed implementation guidance are freely available, and are included on the Ministry of Defence's website (www.mod.uk).

Sexual Offenders

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what measures he has taken to ensure that non-commissioned officers convicted of child pornography sex offences are debarred from further contact with young soldiers; and if he will make a statement on the particular circumstances of an NCO serving in the Royal Regiment of Wales;
	(2)  what steps were taken to inform civilian authorities in (a) Kosovo and (b) Germany following the conviction in 2002 of a Royal Regiment of Wales non-commissioned officer for offences involving child pornography.

Adam Ingram: All personnel convicted of child pornography offences will have details of the charges, and punishment, recorded on their career file and conduct sheet. Subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, this will be taken into consideration during the selection process, in order to assess an individual's suitability for any particular post.
	There is no record of a non-commissioned officer currently serving in, or attached to, the Royal Regiment of Wales being convicted, in 2002, of offences related to child pornography, though a junior NCO attached to RRW was convicted in 2004 as a result of an investigation started in 2002.
	No provision exists within the Sexual Offences Act requiring the armed forces to inform other jurisdictions that a sex offender is intending to visit their country; this is a matter for the civil police.

Shipbuilding

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of defence-related ship building in the United Kingdom.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence has embarked on the largest procurement programme of new ships for the Royal Navy in many years, including orders for six Type 45 destroyers, three ASTUTE Class submarines and four Landing Ships Dock (Auxiliary).
	Future plans include the purchase of two new aircraft carriers, further orders of Type 45 destroyers and Astute Class submarines, and the progressive replacement of existing RFA vessels.
	Looking further ahead, we expect to replace the capability provided by the Type 22 and 23 Frigates with the Future Surface Combatant.
	It remains the policy of this Government that all warships for the Royal Navy, or vessels designated warlike, will be built in the United Kingdom, although weapon, command and propulsion systems, may be procured from overseas, following open competition.
	All bidders for new procurements will, of course, have to demonstrate the capability and competitiveness to meet our needs, but this future programme should provide an excellent opportunity for the UK's shipbuilding industry.

Thales (Racal Acquisition)

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what undertakings were given to his Department by Thales when they acquired Racal.

Adam Ingram: When Thomson CSF (now Thales) acquired Racal Electronics plc in July 2000, contractual undertakings addressing national security aspects were provided to the Ministry of Defence by Thomson CSF.
	Statutory undertakings were also provided to the Department of Trade and Industry as part of the regulatory clearance for the acquisition. These are in the public domain and provide assurance that the company will comply with the contractual undertakings provided to the MOD.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Business Support

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many companies have benefited from the Small Businesses Loan Scheme in (a) Greater London and (b) each London borough in each of the last three years.

Nigel Griffiths: The Government do not operate a Small Business Loan Scheme.

Carbon Emissions

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of changes in carbon emissions which would result if all gas fired power stations which have been approved, but are yet to enter service, replaced existing carbon emitting generators.

Stephen Timms: The answer depends on the assumptions made about the type of existing carbon emitting generation which the new gas-fired capacity would replace and the load factor for the new gas-fired plant. There is currently around 4,800MW of gas-fired capacity, comprising six large stations, approved but yet to enter service.
	If coal-fired plants are replaced then the carbon saving would amount to around 4 million tonnes per annum as coal emits more than twice the amount of carbon as gas per TWh of generation. If older gas-fired generation plants were replaced then the change in emissions would be around 0.3 million tonnes per annum, the change reflecting only the higher efficiency of new gas-fired generation compared with older gas generation technologies. A load factor of 70 per cent. is assumed for gas-fired generation.

Carbon Emissions

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of how much carbon would be emitted if all gas fired power stations which have been approved, but are yet to enter service, entered service.

Stephen Timms: There is currently around 4,800MW of gas-fired capacity comprising six large stations, approved but yet to enter service. The level of associated carbon emissions will depend on the operational load factor associated with this capacity. On the assumption of a 70 per cent. load factor, emissions from these stations would amount to around 3 million tonnes of carbon per annum. The net impact on UK emissions will depend on what type of capacity (conventional fossil fuel or nuclear generation) this new capacity is replacing.

Carbon Emissions

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the likely changes in carbon emissions if all renewable electricity generators which have been approved, but are yet to enter service, replaced carbon emitting generators.

Stephen Timms: There is currently around 1700MW of renewable capacity approved but yet to enter service. This comprises 500MW of onshore wind and 1200MW of offshore wind as well as 20MW of hydro power. The change in carbon emissions associated with this level of new renewables capacity will depend on the assumption made about the type of carbon emitting generation which it replaces and the operational load factors associated with the renewables capacity.
	If new renewables capacity replaces gas-fired generation, which would otherwise have been built, then the reduction in emissions would amount to around 0.5 million tonnes of carbon per annum. If the new capacity is assumed to have replaced coal-fired generation then the change in emissions would amount to around 1.2 million tonnes of carbon per annum. These figures are based on the assumptions of a 30 per cent. load factor for onshore wind and 35 per cent. for offshore wind and hydro.

Combined Heat and Power

Jonathan R Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what studies her Department has undertaken to assess the (a) economic impact and (b) carbon savings of requiring energy suppliers to have a statutory requirement to include combined heat and power as part of their overall production; and if she will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: In 2003, the DTI and DEFRA commissioned Cambridge Econometrics to undertake a study of the prospects for CHP to 2010. This work included an analysis of the effects of a CHP obligation along the lines of the existing Renewables Obligation. The results of this study were published in November of that year and can be found at: http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/environment/energy efficiency/chpreport.pdf

DVDs/Videos

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 24 May 2004, Official Report, column 1442W, on DVDs/videos, if she will ask the Office of Fair Trading to investigate whether fair pricing competition exists between national supermarket chains and small independent retailers of DVDs and videos.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 14 June 2004
	It is for the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), as the UK's independent competition authority, to decide whether to investigate competition issues. Any information or evidence concerning market failure or anti-competitive practices should be submitted directly to the OFT.

Management Earnings (Merseyside)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the average gross weekly pay for (a) managers and (b) senior officials in (i) Merseyside and (ii) the UK was in 2003; and if she will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mrs. Claire Curtis-Thomas, dated 15 June 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking the average gross weekly wage for (a) Managers and (b) Senior Officials in (i) Merseyside and (ii) the UK for 2003. (177918)
	Average earnings are estimated from the 2003 New Earnings Survey (NES) and are provided for full-time employees on adult rates of pay whose pay was unaffected by absence during the pay period, by their place of work. This is the standard definition used for NES tables. The NES does not collect data (on the self employed and people who do unpaid work. I attach a table showing the average gross weekly wage for Managers and Senior Officials in both Merseyside and the UK.
	The NES, carried out in April of each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the UK. It is a one per cent. sample of all employees who are members of pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) schemes, but because of its sampling frame, it has difficulty capturing data on people with very low pay. It is therefore likely to under-represent relatively low paid staff earning below the tax threshold.
	The New Earnings Survey publication criteria ensures that all estimates are undisclosive and of reliable quality. A number of estimates have been removed from the published tables for these reasons.
	
		Average gross weekly pay for (a) Managers and (b) Senior Officials in (i) Merseyside and (ii) the UK for 2003
		
			  Weekly earnings (£) 
		
		
			 Managers 732.2 
			 Senior Officials 1,739.9 
			 Merseyside  
			 Managers 585.6 
			 Senior Officials (1)— 
		
	
	(1) Data are not shown due to the small sample size.
	Notes:
	1. The occupation groups are defined using Standard Occupational Coding 2000.
	Managers have been taken as SOC 2000 Major Group 1, Managers and Senior Officials.
	Senior Officials have been taken as SOC 2000 Minor Group 111 Corporate Managers and Senior Officials. Here is a link to SOC 2000:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/methods quality/ns sec/downloads/SOC2000 Vol1 V5.pdf
	2. The New Earnings Survey release criteria currently require that any estimate:
	(a) of a mean is based on a sample size of at least 30
	and that the associated coefficient of variation does not exceed 5 per cent.
	(b) of a quantile such as a percentile, quartile or median, or of a percentage, is based on a sample size of at least 10 and that the sample size is either at least 225 or that the relative coefficient of variation is less than 20 per cent.
	3. Estimates are based on the workplace location.
	Source for earnings data:
	New Earnings survey, April 2003

Electricity Generation/Supply

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what basis her Department includes (a) generators subject to transmission constraints and (b) inherently intermittent generators in aggregated totals of generation capacity when comparing levels of installed generation capacity against possible levels of electricity demand.

Stephen Timms: National Grid Transco (NGT) reports the level of installed generating capacity relative to forecast levels of electricity peak demand in its annual "Seven Year Statement" (SYS) and the associated quarterly Updates.
	NGT do not currently differentiate the capacity of intermittent generators directly connected to the system from other forms of installed capacity. The registered capacity of any transmission-constrained generator is adjusted to the limit of the constraint in question.

Export Credits Guarantee Department

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to her answer of 13 January 2004, Official Report, column 696W, on the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD), what information her Department can provide within reasonable cost that will not prejudice ECGD negotiations.

Mike O'Brien: We are able to provide a breakdown of all of ECGD's unrecovered claims on a market-by-market basis (see following table). This information is updated regularly on ECGD's website at www.ecgd.gov.uk. These figures do not include our assessment of what claims are or are not recoverable. To disclose these figures would prejudice ECGD's attempts to recover claims outstanding.
	
		
			 Country Unrecovered claims ((£) 
		
		
			 Algeria 129,541,473.30 
			 Angola 52,540,571.75 
			 Antigua and Barbuda 2,745,763.44 
			 Argentina 31,517,224.98 
			 Australia 7,144,450.70 
			 Bahrain 69,465.62 
			 Belgium 18,688,061.48 
			 Benin 1.00 
			 Bolivia 0.00 
			 Bosnia and Herzegovina 895,641.37 
			 Brazil 176,101,779.37 
			 Bulgaria 0.01 
			 Burkina Faso 0.00 
			 Cameroon 24,387,259.69 
			 Canada 17,085,467.64 
			 Central African Republic 144,745.87 
			 Chad 0.00 
			 Colombia 1,024,981.33 
			 Congo 58,027,462.04 
			 Costa Rica 0.00 
			 Cote D'Ivoire 21,029,634.18 
			 Croatia 46,133,199.40 
			 Cuba 52,146,568.31 
			 Cyprus 454.00 
			 Dominica 981,167.37 
			 Ecuador 27,136,774.09 
			 Egypt 134,034,814.42 
			 El Salvador 0.00 
			 Ethiopia 10,996,463.86 
			 France 83,801.01 
			 Gabon 74,718,999.71 
			 Germany 0.00 
			 Ghana 50,821,016.55 
			 Greece 120,559.82 
			 Grenada 957,608.78 
			 Guinea 922,419.10 
			 Guyana 0.01 
			 India 1,742.06 
			 Indonesia 772,775,807.24 
			 Iran (Islamic Republic of) 28,766,647.48 
			 Iraq 621,852,319.97 
			 Israel 0.00 
			 Italy 71,063.06 
			 Jamaica 1,170,673.49 
			 Jordan 216,315,339.29 
			 Kazakhstan 5.97 
			 Kenya 16,555,734.19 
			 Korea, Democratic People's Republic 5,864,356.17 
			 Kuwait 1,398,519.12 
			 Lebanon 77.14 
			 Liberia 7,875,586.13 
			 Libyan Arab Jamahiriya 8,972,335.50 
			 Macedonia 2,382,683.45 
			 Madagascar 9,930,882.07 
			 Malawi 306,816.44 
			 Mali 0.04 
			 Mauritania 0.00 
			 Mexico 1,291,657.72 
			 Morocco 19,684,364.48 
			 Mozambique 159,513.38 
			 Myanmar 22,904,009.02 
			 Nicaragua 367,532.50 
			 Niger 3,370,318.92 
			 Nigeria 1,650,458,746.72 
			 Pakistan 6,517,406.84 
			 Paraguay 5,939.89 
			 Peru 56,027,018.47 
			 Philippines 6,089,710.50 
			 Poland 359,163,789.81 
			 Portugal 1.00 
			 Russian Federation 570,898,987.19 
			 Saudi Arabia 1,305,765.53 
			 Senegal 616,506.63 
			 Serbia Republic 148,479,862.67 
			 Seychelles 882,602.43 
			 Sierra Leone 810,763.64 
			 Singapore 5,326.27 
			 Somalia 10,380,865.12 
			 Spain 64,866.50 
			 Sri Lanka 811.63 
			 Sudan 89,460,418.44 
			 Switzerland 23,412,038.16 
			 Syrian Arab Republic 0.00 
			 Taiwan 0.00 
			 Tanzania, United Republic of 7,374.26 
			 Togo 9,460,912.59 
			 Turkey 1,632,772.29 
			 Turkmenistan 0.00 
			 Uganda 619.00 
			 United States 3,207,078.66 
			 Vietnam 5,528,838.01 
			 Yemen 0.00 
			 Yugoslavia 0.00 
			 Zaire 24,652,248.37 
			 Zambia 67,215,313.47 
			 Zimbabwe 85,797,036.06

Flexible Working

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the merits of allowing employment tribunals to test the business case for the refusal of a request for flexible working; and if she will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The flexible working law was designed by the Work and Parents Taskforce to be light-touch and is based on employer best practice. In translating the Taskforce proposals into legislation, the Government accepted their recommendation on handling unresolved requests. As the law currently operates, the facts on which the business case is based can be contested in an employment tribunal, as long as the appeal stage has been exhausted.
	Since its introduction in April 2003, we have been constantly monitoring the impact of the law. We are committed to not making any changes to the laws for working parents until after their impact is reviewed in 2006. We continue to work with stakeholders and intermediaries, as well as engaging the views of both employers and parents directly to build up a strong evidence base for the review.

Flexible Working

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many requests for flexible working from (a) women and (b) men were for (i) shorter working hours and (ii) compressed working hours.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The DTI published results of the first flexible working employee survey in April 2004. The survey reported the types of flexible working requested by male and female employees since the introduction of the new employment rights in April 2003.
	
		Table A4—Types of flexible working requested (percentage)
		
			  Male employees Female employees All employees 
		
		
			 Part-time 31 41 38 
			 Flexitime 30 23 25 
			 Reduced hours for a limited period (2)— 12 13 
			 Work from home on a regular basis 17 (2)— 10 
			 Compressed working week (2)— (2)— 8 
		
	
	(2) Sample size too small for a reliable estimate. Percentage of those employees surveyed who had requested flexible working.
	Notes:
	1. Respondents could give multiple responses.
	2. Respondents also stated other types of flexible working, but sample sizes were too small to report above.
	3. All employees who requested flexible working since April 2003. Total of 456 employee responses.
	Source:
	ONS Omnibus Survey, September to November 2003 and February 2004.
	In total an estimated 56,000 men and 294,000 women have requested shorter working hours, although the sample size was not large enough to include the number of men requesting reduced hours for a limited period, so this has not been included.
	The sample sizes were too small to reliably estimate the number of women or men requesting compressed working hours.

Industrial Development Grants (Crosby)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much public funding from industrial development grants has been spent in Crosby.

Jacqui Smith: There have been two offers made to businesses in Crosby since 1997 worth £154,401.

Minerals

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will estimate the total gross value added to the economy from the mining and quarrying of minerals in each year between 1994 and 2004.

Jacqui Smith: The gross value added of mining and quarrying of minerals and of the whole economy from 1994 to 2002 (latest available) are:
	
		
			  Gross value added at basic prices (£ billion) 
			  Mining and quarrying of minerals Whole economy Minerals share of whole economy (percentage) 
		
		
			 1994 1.2 608.7 0.2 
			 1995 1.4 639.9 0.2 
			 1996 1.6 680.2 0.2 
			 1997 1.7 720.4 0.2 
			 1998 1.6 762.4 0.2 
			 1999 1.7 797.8 0.2 
			 2000 1.8 839.2 0.2 
			 2001 1.9 880.9 0.2 
			 2002 2.3 925.6 0.2 
		
	
	Note:
	Minerals comprise subsection CB of the Standard Industrial Classification—Mining and Quarrying Except Energy Producing Materials.
	Sources:
	1. Office for National Statistics.
	2. UK National Accounts (the Blue Book), 2003 edition, table 2.3.

National Minimum Wage (Scotland)

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people aged (a) between 18 and 21 and (b) over 21 years of age are receiving the national minimum wage in Scotland, broken down by parliamentary constituency or nearest available area.

Gerry Sutcliffe: It is not possible to provide estimates for individual parliamentary constituencies.
	Based on the Office for National Statistics' Low Pay data released in 2003, the DTI estimates that between 100,000 and 120,000 people in Scotland were expected to have benefited from the October 2003 up-rating of the national minimum wage. However, it is not possible to provide estimates specifically for the development rate because of small sample size.

New Businesses

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new firms have been established in the UK during each of the last five years.

Nigel Griffiths: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Ynys Môn (Albert Owen) on 20 May 2004, Official Report, column 1118W.

Nuclear Material/Power

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will list the occasions since 1974 when nuclear material has been found to be unaccounted for, broken down by (a) the material and (b) the location where it had been held.

Stephen Timms: In accordance with international practice, the inventory difference that occurs when the result of a physical inventory of nuclear material is compared with the book inventory is referred to as MUF ('material unaccounted for'. The difference may be negative (an apparent loss) or positive (an apparent gain). MUF is a recognised feature of accounting for nuclear material and is caused primarily by the uncertainties inherent in the techniques used to measure nuclear material.
	MUF figures at UKAEA, BNFL and Urenco sites are published annually by the industry. Figures published since 1973–74 will be placed in the Libraries of the House. There is no evidence to suggest that there have been any real losses or gains of nuclear material.

Nuclear Material/Power

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how the employment rights and benefits of constables in the Atomic Energy Authority Constabulary will change under the provisions of the Energy Bill.

Stephen Timms: The Energy Bill requires that the Secretary of State make a nuclear transfer scheme providing for the transfer to the Civil Nuclear Police Authority those employees of the UKAEA who are members of the UKAEA Constabulary. The Bill also provides for members of the UKAEA Constabulary to hold office as members of the new Civil Nuclear Constabulary.
	There will be no practical effect on the employment rights and benefits of members of the UKAEA Constabulary as a result of this transfer. The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 (TUPE) will apply, and current and future members of the Constabulary will continue to be eligible for membership of the UKAEA pension scheme.
	The Bill prohibits members of the Constabulary from joining trade unions (subject to the same limited exceptions that apply to other police officers). This puts current informal arrangements on a statutory footing. It also brings the Constabulary into line with long established arrangements for other police forces. The restriction on trade union membership will not extend to civilian employees of the Police Authority.
	The Bill also provides for statutory recognition of a Civil Nuclear Police Federation, and requires the Civil Nuclear Police Authority to align any provisions it makes about conditions of service of members of the new Constabulary with the provision made on such matters by police regulations (unless differences are justified due to the circumstances and structure of the Constabulary). Again this provides a statutory basis for current informal arrangements.

Nuclear Material/Power

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the proposed decommissioning dates are of each nuclear power station in the UK; and what level of carbon emissions would result if each was replaced by combined cycle gas turbine generation. [R]
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Stephen Timms: The proposed closure dates of each nuclear power station in the UK are as follows:
	
		
			 Name of power plant Current proposed closure date 
		
		
			 Chapelcross 2005 
			 Dungeness A 2006 
			 Sizewell A 2006 
			 Oldbury 2008 
			 Dungeness B 2008 
			 Wylfa 2010 
			 Hinkley Point B 2011 
			 Hunterston B 2011 
			 Hartlepool 2014 
			 Heysham 1 2014 
			 Heysham 2 2023 
			 Torness 2023 
			 Sizewell B 2035 
		
	
	Output from nuclear generation in 2003 amounted to 82TWh. If this output was replaced by combined cycle gas turbine generation then the increase in carbon emissions would be around eight million tonnes of carbon per annum.

Nursing Homes

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the decision by the Office of Fair Trading not to include the impact of local authorities' purchasing power on the financial viability of nursing homes in its investigation into nursing homes.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 14 June 2004
	The Office of Fair Trading is an independent body, and Ministers have no role to play in relation to its decisions about the conduct of market studies.

Parental Leave

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of eligible (a) men, (b) women and (c) parents have taken parental leave in each year since its introduction.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 24 May 2004
	Take-up of parental leave is not recorded by the DTI. However, a DWP report ("Maternity and Paternity Rights in Britain 2002: Survey of Parents") suggests that around 8 per cent. of eligible female employees whose employers provided parental leave used the provision. The same report also states around 10 per cent. of eligible male employees whose employers provided parental leave used the provision.

Petrol Prices

Simon Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what (a) evidence she has collated and (b) representations she has received regarding cartels in petrol prices, with particular reference to West Wales.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 8 June 2004
	I have received no such evidence or representations. Under the Competition Act 1998 the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is responsible for anti-cartel enforcement. Where the OFT has reasonable grounds to suspect a cartel in a particular sector of the economy, it will investigate the matter. Evidence of anti-competitive behaviour should therefore be passed to the OFT. The OFT's powers of investigation were strengthened by the Enterprise Act 2002, which also introduced a criminal penalty for cartel activity.

Regional Development Agency Funding

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which organisations have received funds from each of the regional development agencies, for each year since 1999; and how much funding was received in each case.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 14 June 2004
	The RDA's fund an enormous number of organisations including businesses, local authorities, voluntary groups and partnerships. Such information could be obtained and made available only at a disproportionate cost.
	Further information on RDA expenditure is available from their annual reports and accounts.

Rochdale Constituency

Lorna Fitzsimons: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many residents of the parliamentary constituency of Rochdale have benefited from a reduction of the working week to 48 hours; and what percentage of those are (a) women and (b) of Asian origin.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Working Time Regulations provide workers with the right to refuse to work more than 48 hours on average, if they do not want to. Numbers for Rochdale are not available, however it has been estimated that around 300,000 workers resident in the North West stood to benefit from the introduction of the weekly working time limits in 1998.
	(a) Around 30,000 (10 per cent.) of the workers in the North West who stood to benefit from the introduction of the weekly working time limits in 1998 were female.
	(b) The number of workers in the North West who stood to benefit from the introduction of the weekly working time limits in 1998 of Asian origin was too small to provide a reliable estimate.

Rochdale Constituency

Lorna Fitzsimons: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the benefits to the residents of the parliamentary constituency of Rochdale of the new rights for night-shift workers.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Working Time Regulations came into force on 1 October 1998. The regulations limit working time to 48 hours per week averaged over a 17-week reference period. For night workers the limit is eight hours per day on average, including overtime where it is part of a night worker's normal hours of work. There is no opt-out from the night working time limit.
	Night workers are entitled to 11 hours rest between working days, one day's rest per week, and a 20-minute in work rest break if the working period is longer than six hours.
	All night workers should be offered a free health assessment before they start working nights and thereafter at regular intervals for as long as they are working nights. The health assessments should take account of the nature of the work and the restrictions on a worker's working time under the regulations. Workers who suffer from problems as a result of working at night, should as far as practicable be offered alternative day work.
	All workers are entitled to four weeks paid annual leave. There is no specific data available for night shift workers in Rochdale.

Rochdale Constituency

Lorna Fitzsimons: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the Government have taken to help small businesses in the parliamentary constituency of Rochdale since 1997.

Nigel Griffiths: The Business Link Operator for North Manchester has provided assistance to 1,795 enterprises in the constituency of Rochdale since 2001. The Small Business Service was set up as an agency of the Department of Trade and Industry in April 2000. Contracts were exchanged with a national network of 45 Business Link Operators (seven in the North West) to provide Business Support to small and medium sized enterprises from April 2001. Before this date Government Support to businesses was provided through Training and Enterprise Councils and the Small Business Service does not have access to this data.
	The type of assistance provided to the 1,795 companies include Business Finance, Environmental, E-services, High Growth, International trade, Innovation and Technology, Micro Support, Workforce Development and other Account Management assistance.
	Under the Enterprise Grant scheme (EGS), which has now come to a close (April 2004), 27 companies have received offers of grant with a total value of £994,500 since 1997.
	Under the Research and Development grant scheme (R&D), six companies have received offers of grant with a total value of £325,776.

Rochdale Constituency

Lorna Fitzsimons: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new businesses have started up in the parliamentary constituency of Rochdale since 1997; and what percentage are run by (a) women and (b) people of Asian origin.

Nigel Griffiths: Barclays Bank's latest survey of business creation includes non-VAT registered firms and shows that there were 115,000 business start ups in England and Wales, including 400 in Rochdale local authority (for which Rochdale is a constituency), in the last quarter of 2003. Data for local authorities are not available for before 2003.
	The latest yearly figures show 465,000 business start ups in England and Wales in 2003. This represents a 19 per cent. increase on the year before.
	DTI figures based solely on VAT registrations for Rochdale local authority (for which Rochdale is a constituency) are shown as follows for the period 1997 to 2002. Data for 2003 will be available in autumn 2004.
	
		VAT registrations per year—Rochdale
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1997 480 
			 1998 455 
			 1999 440 
			 2000 430 
			 2001 455 
			 2002 465 
		
	
	Source:
	Business Start-ups and Closures: VAT Registrations and De-registrations 1994–2002, Small Business Service, available from www.sbs.gov.uk/analytical/statistics/vatstats.php. The figures are also in the Library of the House.
	VAT registrations do not capture all start-up activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if they fall below the compulsory VAT threshold, which has risen in each year since 1997. Similarly, businesses that de-register will not necessarily have closed. Only 1.8 million out of 3.8 million enterprises were registered for VAT at the start of 2002.
	The numbers of businesses starting in Rochdale that are run by women, or people of Asian origin, are not available.
	The Small Business Service Omnibus Survey from autumn 2002 estimates that the proportion of businesses in England with one to 249 employees, with a majority of women in control of the business, is 13 per cent.; and the proportion of businesses in England with one to 249 employees, with a majority of people of Asian origin (Bangladeshi, Indian or Pakistani) in control of the business, is 3 per cent.

Utility Bills (Direct Debit)

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what protection is available for people against utility company levies that are added to their bills because they choose not to pay by direct debit.

Stephen Timms: The protection available to utility customers varies according to the industry concerned, each of which is subject to specific regulation. In respect of gas, electricity and telephone, levies are not applied to customers who choose to pay by standard credit, although direct debit customers ordinarily receive a discount because of the lower costs of administering their accounts. Gas and electricity prepayment meter customers will ordinarily pay a higher tariff than other customers because of the costs of the meters and the infrastructure that supports them, but some suppliers do not maintain differentials between their standard credit and prepayment tariffs. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is responsible for matters concerning the water industry.

Utility Bills (Direct Debit)

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the practice of utility companies in imposing different levels of charges upon customers who pay for their services by direct debit and those who do not.

Stephen Timms: Direct debit is the most cost-efficient payment method for companies because, among other things, it guarantees payment and reduces invoicing costs. Utility companies therefore customarily offer a discount on their standard tariff for those paying by direct debit.

TREASURY

Carers

Helen Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many carers of working age are (a) in full-time employment, (b) employed part-time and (c) not in paid work.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Helen Jones, dated 15 June 2004
	As National Statistician and Registrar General for England and Wales I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many carers of working age are a) in full-time employment, b) employed part-time and c) not in paid work. (178198)
	Information on economic activity of people in households providing unpaid care is available in table S026 in the 2001 Census National Report for England and Wales. This volume is available in the House of Commons Library and also on the National Statistics website through http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/cn 87.asp. Figures derived from this table are shown in Table 1 below.
	Census information on economic activity was coded for all people aged 16–74, rather than the usual 'working age' definition covering all males aged 16–64 and all females aged 16–59. Table S026 follows the convention of presenting results for this wider population.
	
		Table 1: Economic activity and provision of unpaid care -- All people aged 16–74 in households, 2001England and Wales
		
			  All people Providers of unpaid care 
		
		
			 All people 37,049,262 4,776,934 
			 Full-time employment(3) 17,535,321 1,852,762 
			 Part-time employment(3) 5,143,701 847,002 
			 Not in paid employment(3) 13,462,160 2,029,437 
			 Economically active full-time students 908,080 47,733 
		
	
	(3) Excluding economically active full-time students.
	Source: S026, Census 2001 National report for England and Wales

Carers

Helen Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the Exchequer that would result if the unpaid care provided for older or disabled people by their relatives had to be paid for from public funds; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government have made no estimate of the cost to the Exchequer that would result if the unpaid care provided for older or disabled people by their relatives had to be paid from public funds. The Royal Commission on Long Term Care included an assessment of the contribution made by carers. In response to the Commission's recommendations to increasingly offer flexible support services for carers, the Government introduced a specific carers grant that will provide over £600 million for carers by 2006.

Unemployment (London)

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in London were unemployed in each year since 1997 according to the (a) claimant count and (b) survey definition; and what proportion this was of total unemployment in the UK on each definition.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. David Willetts, dated 15 June 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about measures of unemployment. (177901)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics of unemployment from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) following International Labour Organisation definitions.
	Table 1 overleaf gives estimates of the number of unemployed people in London as measured by the LFS and expresses them as a percentage of the United Kingdom totals for the 12 month periods ending February in 1997, and each year from 2000 to 2003. Comparable information is not available for 1998 and 1999. As with any statistical sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to sampling variability.
	ONS also compiles statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (ISA). Table 2 overleaf gives the annual average numbers of JSA claimants for the London region, also expressing them as a percentage of the United Kingdom totals, for each year from 1997 to 2003.
	
		Table 1: Estimated number of unemployment peopleLondon, 12 months ending February in 1997, 2000, 2001,2002 and 2003
		
			  Estimate As percentage of UK total 
		
		
			 1997 380,000 17.2 
			 2000 258,000 15.3 
			 2001 245,000 16.1 
			 2002 240,000 16.5 
			 2003 254,000 17.0 
		
	
	Source:
	ONS Labour Force Survey
	
		Table 2: Number of claimants of Jobseeker's Allowance(annual averages)London, 1997–2003
		
			  Number As percentage of UK total 
		
		
			 1997 269,717 17.0 
			 1998 225,367 16.7 
			 1999 203,133 16.3 
			 2000 174,458 16.0 
			 2001 154,917 16.0 
			 2002 166,000 17.5 
			 2003 170,692 18.3 
		
	
	Source:
	Jobcentre Plus Administrative system

Job Creation (Stoke-on-Trent North)

Joan Walley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many new jobs have been created in Stoke-on-Trent, North in each year since 1997.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Ms Joan Walley, dated 15 June 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about jobs created in Stoke-on-Trent.
	While statistics of new jobs created are not available explicitly, statistics from surveys enable comparisons to be made of net changes, in numbers of jobs, from year to year.
	The following table, from the Annual Business Inquiry (a survey of businesses), shows the information requested, relating to jobs located in Stoke-on-Trent North, for each year from 1997 to 2002, the latest year available. The fall in the overall number of jobs almost all occurred in the manufacturing sector, and over the period 1997 to 2002 as a whole, there were increases in jobs in Stoke-on-Trent North in the sectors relating to: distribution, hotels and restaurants, transport and communication, and public administration, education and health.
	The Labour Force Survey (a survey of households) shows a that the number of people of working age resident in the Stoke-on-Trent North Constituency who were in employment fell from 32,800 to 31,100 between the two 12 month periods ending respectively in February 1997 and February 2003, the latest period for which such information is available. However, the working age employment rate rose from 65.2% to 67.1%.
	
		Total number of employees(4) with workplace in Stoke-on-Trent North Parliamentary Constituency: 1997 and 2002
		
			  Total 
			  Number of employees Change on previous year(5) 
		
		
			 1997 27,800 — 
			 1998 29,400 1,600 
			 1999 25,200 -4,200 
			 2000 24,500 -700 
			 2001 23,900 -700 
			 2002 22,800 -1,000 
		
	
	(4) Employee jobs only, not self-employed jobs
	(5) The change figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred separately from rounded levels for individual years
	Source:
	1997; Annual Employment Survey, rescaled 2002; Annual Business Inquiry (ABI)

Rochdale Constituency

Lorna Fitzsimons: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many job vacancies there were in the parliamentary constituency of Rochdale in (a) 1997 and (b) 2003.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl to Mrs. Fitzsimons, dated 15 June 2004
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about job vacancies in Rochdale. I am replying in his absence (l78543)
	According to Jobcentre Plus administrative records, the number of unfilled vacancies in the Rochdale travel-to-work area was 800 on average during 1997. This represents only a proportion of all the vacancies available, as not all vacancies are notified to Jobcentres.
	Figures are not available for Rochdale alone because the vacancies are allocated to local Jobcentres, not according to constituency boundaries, and because of the practice of notifying some vacancies centrally with one Jobcentre taking vacancies for others in the same district.
	Jobcentre vacancy statistics were withdrawn from National Statistics in September 2001 as a result of distortions to the data, which occurred following the introduction of new administrative procedures by Jobcentre Plus. Comparable figures for vacancies in 2003 are therefore unavailable.
	Results from the ONS Vacancy Survey were released as National Statistics from July 2003, but are not available for local areas.

Rochdale Constituency

Lorna Fitzsimons: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families in the parliamentary constituency of Rochdale have received child tax credit; and what percentage were of Asian origin.

Dawn Primarolo: For the total number of such families, I refer my hon. Friend to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Burton (Mrs. Dean) on 15 March 2004, Official Report, column 98W. Details of the ethnic groups of tax credits claimants are not currently available.

Rochdale Constituency

Lorna Fitzsimons: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many businesses in the parliamentary constituency of Rochdale have benefited from the 100 per cent. tax exemption for the purchase of computer and internet equipment; and what percentage of those businesses was owned or run by (a) people of Asian origin and (b) women.

Dawn Primarolo: We regret that the information is not available to estimate the number of businesses in a given constituency which have benefited from the 100 per cent. first year capital allowances for the purchase of information and communication equipment. Neither is any breakdown available from tax records on business ownership by ethnic group or gender.

Rochdale Constituency

Lorna Fitzsimons: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the annual total public sector expenditure in Rochdale was in (a) 1997–98 and (b) 2003–04.

Ruth Kelly: HM Treasury annually publishes analyses of public expenditure outturn data by country and region as National Statistics, in chapter 8 of the command paper 'Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses'. The latest edition was published in April 2004 as Cm 6201—'Public Expenditure Statistical analyses 2004'.
	The ONS have also published a one-off set of experimental statistics of sub regional government accounts for 1998. The link to the article is: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme other/Regional Government Accounts.pdf
	However no such information is available for Rochdale in either of these sources, as it is neither published nor collected to this degree of detail.

Rochdale Constituency

Lorna Fitzsimons: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what the (a) change and (b) percentage change was in full-time permanent jobs in the parliamentary constituency of Rochdale from 1997 to 31 December 2003;
	(2)  how many new jobs have been created in the parliamentary constituency of Rochdale since 1997;
	(3)  how many people were employed in manufacturing-related jobs in the parliamentary constituency of Rochdale (a) on the latest date for which figures are available and (b) in 1997.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mrs. Lorna Fitzsimons, dated 15 June 2004
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about jobs created in Rochdale. (178554, 178556 and 178557)
	While statistics of new jobs created are not available explicitly, statistics from surveys enable comparisons to be made of net changes, in numbers of jobs, from year to year.
	The attached table shows the information requested, relating to jobs in Rochdale, for 1997 and the latest year available, 2002.
	
		Number of full-time employees and total number ofemployees(6) with workplace in Rochdale parliamentary constituency: 1997 and 2002
		
			 Number, per cent 
			  Manufacturing Full-Time Total 
		
		
			 Number of employees
			 1997 8,700 24,700 36,000 
			 2002 7,200 27,500 39,400 
			 Change from 1997 to 2002(7) 
			 Absolute — 2,900 3,400 
			 Percentage — 10.4 8.7 
		
	
	(6) Employee jobs only, not self-employed jobs.
	(7) The 1997 to 2002 change has been rounded to the nearest hundred separately from rounded levels for 1997 and 2002.
	Source:
	1997; Annual Employment Survey, rescaled 2002; Annual Business Inquiry (ABI).

Advisers/Consultants

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department and its agencies and non-departmental public bodies spent on external consultants and advisers in each of the last three years.

Ruth Kelly: The Inland Revenue, HM Customs and Excise, Office for National Statistics, Office of Government Commerce, National Savings and Investment, Royal Mint, Valuation Office, Debt Management Office and Government Actuary's Department's spend on external consultants in the last three years is as follows (using the OGC's definition of consultancy):
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 2001–02 (8)73 
			 2002–03 78 
		
	
	(8) 2001–02 excludes data for Inland Revenue. The data has been archived and would only be available at disproportionate cost.
	Reliable data for 2003–04 is not yet available. Figures relate to resource expenditure.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the letter to him dated 27 April from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Patrick McKenna.

Dawn Primarolo: I replied to the right hon. Member on 9 June.

Departmental Savings

Denzil Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total saving to his three departments has been in each of the years to April (a) 2002, (b) 2003 and (c) 2004 arising from the STEPS agreement.

Dawn Primarolo: Over the 20-year life of the STEPS contract, when compared with the Public Sector Comparator, the Departments expect to save £344 million (in net present values), with an estimated first year saving of some £27 million. In addition further benefits and savings will accrue over the life of the contract, for example through the transfer of risk and payment by the departments of a reduced facilities price as an offset against the deferred capital payment at the outset of the contract. Because all of these savings and benefits are taken over the 20 year life of the contract it is not possible to quantify annual savings.

Departmental Surveys

Norman Lamb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what surveys of public perceptions of (a) his Department and of its areas of responsibility, (b) Customs and Excise and (c) the Inland Revenue have taken place over the last 12 months; what the (a) title and (b) nature of these surveys was; what the findings of each survey were; where these findings have been published; what the cost of such surveys was; and if he will make a statement and place copies of the surveys in the Library.

Ruth Kelly: The information is as follows:
	HM Treasury
	No surveys of public perception of HM Treasury have been conducted during the past 12 months.
	HM Customs and Excise
	HM Customs and Excise commissioned a programme of 'Business Needs' surveys at the end of 2003. The cost of these surveys was £79,959 (including VAT).
	An overall measure of customer satisfaction, obtained by combining results from the separate surveys, is used to monitor performance against the customer satisfaction element of the Department's current Public Service Agreement (PSA) Target 4.
	Reports on these surveys will, following completion, be published on the Customs and Excise website and hard copies will be placed in the Library of the House.
	No other surveys of this type were conducted during the past 12 months.
	Inland Revenue
	The Customer Service Performance Indicator (CSPI) is used as a performance indicator score for the Revenue's Public Service Agreement (PSA) Target 5. Information about the nature of the CSPI survey and the overall score produced by the 2003 survey have been published in the Inland Revenue's Spring Departmental Report (May 2004 (Cm 6225) Page 23). A research summary of the findings for the customer groups covered is under preparation and will be included in the Inland Revenue's publication schedule copies of which will be placed in the House of Commons Library. The cost of the 2003–4 CSPI survey was £292,810 (including VAT).
	The Brand Tracking study tracks customer perception of the Inland Revenue over time.
	A research report summarising the findings for future waves of Brand Tracking will be produced and will be included in the Inland Revenue's publication schedule copies of which will be placed in the House of Commons Library. The total cost of the two waves of Brand Tracking Research was £115,020.80 (including VAT).

EU Savings Directive

Denzil Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the revenue change to the Treasury arising from the implementation of the EU Savings Directive.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer my hon. Friend to the Regulatory Impact Assessment, published on 16 December 2003, which considers the costs and benefits of implementation of the EU Savings Directive. Copies of the Regulatory Impact Assessment were placed in the Library of the House. It is also available on the Inland Revenue website http://www.ir.gov.uk/ria/eusd- ria.pdf.

Financial Regulation

Harry Cohen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department maintains a record of the annual percentage which financial institutions add to their with profits endowments, mortgage annuities and pension financial vehicles for their investors; whether any financial regulatory body keeps such a record; if he will require such a record to be made available in the public domain; what steps he is taking to (a) encourage competition between such financial institutions and the financial vehicles they promote and (b) enable investors to make an informed choice; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: With-profits bonus decisions are publicly available through a variety of sources including statements to policyholders, annual reports and accounts, regulatory returns made to the Financial Services Authority and reports in both the general and the specialist financial press. There are no plans to compile and make available a comprehensive record. These are medium and long-term policies for which one year's annual bonus percentage provides only part of the information relevant to understanding the policy.
	The Financial Services Authority tells me that it regards improving transparency for existing and potential policyholders and treating customers fairly as the cornerstones of the changes that are being introduced for with-profits. Enabling consumers and those who advise consumers on their choice of investment to make rational choices on the basis of clearer and more transparent information will encourage healthy competition within the industry.

Financial Regulation

Harry Cohen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to improve investment competition by reducing penalties upon investors who wish to opt out of very low paying annual percentage additions to with profits endowments, mortgage annuities and pension financial vehicles; if he will instruct the Financial Services Authority to bring forward proposals to ensure that investors are not effectively locked in to uncompetitive financial vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

Ruth Kelly: The value of with-profits funds depends on the interaction between annual bonuses over the lifetime of the policy and the level of terminal bonus. Surrender values sometimes incorporate market value reductions where the nominal value of a policyholders funds is in excess of the value of the underlying assets and the terms of the insurance contract allow one to be imposed. It is important that the amounts paid to departing policyholders are fair both to those who leave the fund and to those who wish to remain invested for the longer term.
	The Financial Services Authority has already made a number of proposals relating to closed with-profits funds including better provision of information to policyholders explaining the circumstances of closure, setting out the options available to policyholders and better planning for the run-off of the fund.

Imported Electricity

Bill Tynan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons electricity imported into the United Kingdom via interconnectors is not subject to the Climate Change Levy.

John Healey: Climate change levy is a single-stage tax which becomes due when a utility supplies a consumer with electricity, whether produced in the UK or imported via an interconnector.

International Development

Tom Brake: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 27 May 2004, Official Report, column 1725W, on international development, if he will define what constitutes the usual representations.

John Healey: The Government have received many representations from Members, private individuals and other bodies such as NGOs on the subject of the 0.7 per cent. target for official development assistance. These include letters, e-mails and postcards.

Parliamentary Questions

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 27 May 2004, Official Report, column 1728W, on tax credits, where the reference to (a) child tax credit and (b) working tax credit appears in the document sent to all honourable Members;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 27 May 2004, Official Report, column 1728W, on tax credits, whether (a) child tax credit and (b) working tax credit are subject to the right to reside test.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to page 3 of the briefing sent to all Members of Parliament on 10 May 2004 by my hon. Friend, the Minister for Citizenship and Immigration (Mr. Browne).

Professional Football Clubs

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many professional football clubs have gone into receivership or administration since 1997; and what the average percentage is of the money they owed to the Government that (a) the Inland Revenue and (b) Customs and Excise has agreed the clubs should repay.

Dawn Primarolo: Individual businesses are monitored by both revenue departments when they fall into arrears. However, information on the debts of particular groups according to the nature of their business is not held centrally in both departments. The information requested is therefore not readily available.

STEPS Agreement

Denzil Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much in total has been paid to external commercial, legal and financial advisers in respect of the STEPS agreement.

Dawn Primarolo: The STEPS agreement can be split into two distinct activities—the STEPS Project prior to contract go live in April 2001 and STEPS Contract Management since then. The costs given as follows for external commercial, legal and financial advice in respect of the STEPS agreement reflect this:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 STEPS Cost 
			 Project 8,545,992 
			 Contract 1 April to 4 April 4,838,910

STEPS Agreement

Denzil Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was paid by the Department to Mapeley STEPS Contractor Limited in each year to April (a) 2002, (b) 2003 and (c) 2004.

Dawn Primarolo: Payments to Mapeley STEPS Contractor Limited for the Chancellors Departments are:
	
		
			 To April £ 
		
		
			 2002 301,945,016.19 
			 2003 309,546,889.08 
			 2004 309,264,264.67

Taxation (Married People)

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the cost to the Exchequer of allowing married people to transfer their unused income tax allowance to a spouse with a taxable income in respect of families where the child is (a) under one year old, (b) one, (c) two, (d) three, (e) four and (f) five years old.

Dawn Primarolo: The cost to the exchequer through lower income tax of allowing married persons with children to transfer their full personal allowance to their spouse if he or she has a higher gross income for the options are listed as follows.
	
		Cost in 2004–05 per annum
		
			 Option Amount (£ million) 
		
		
			 (a) married and with at least one child aged less than one year 320 
			 (b) married and with at least one child aged one year 340 
			 (c) married and with at least one child aged two years 360 
			 (d) married and with at least one child aged three years 350 
			 (e) married and with at least one child aged four years 370 
			 (f) married and with at least one child aged five years 340 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures rounded to the nearest £10 million. They exclude any estimate of behavioural response to the tax change.
	2. Age of child at last birthday.
	The change in revenue for other taxes can be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

Trade (Endangered Species)

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many articles were seized by HM Customs under the Convention for the International Trade in Endangered Species in each year since 1997–98.

John Healey: HM Customs and Excise reported in their Departmental Annual Reports for 1997–98 and 1998–99 details of Cites seizures for those years. Detailed information for the period April 1999 to December 2000 is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Customs' Spring Departmental Report 2004 (Cm 6224) contains details of the numbers of Cites seizures for the nine months from 1 April 2003 to 31 December 2003, and the tables show details of seizures for the calendar years 2001–03.
	Seizures may be recorded by weight or number and seizures of items such as traditional Chinese medicines may be recorded either according to the individual count of capsules or according to the quantity of containers.
	
		
			 2001 Number of seizures Number of items seized Weight of items seized (kg) 
		
		
			 Live animals and birds 49 5,196  
			 Parts and derivatives of endangered species 204 15,908  
			  19  711,071 
			 Ivory 40 347  
			  4  476,850 
			 Plants 28 3,923  
			  1  4,800 
			 Other CITES listed species 45 1,489  
			  20  29,376 
			 Preparations of oriental medicines that include parts or derivatives of endangered species 50 37,205  
		
	
	
		
			 2002 Number of seizures Number of items seized Weight of items seized (kg) 
		
		
			 Live animals and birds 114 8,685  
			 Parts and derivatives of endangered species 238 9,672,827  
			  4  227,600 
			 Ivory 29 156  
			 Plants 13 758  
			 Other CITES listed species 51 6,664,307  
			  30  107,675 
			 Preparations of oriental medicines that include parts or derivatives of endangered species 60 5,597,596  
		
	
	
		
			 2003 Number of seizures Number of items seized Weight of items seized (kg) 
		
		
			 Live animals and birds 99 2,925  
			 Parts and derivatives of endangered species 144 2,143  
			 Ivory 33 145  
			 Plants 15 2,044  
			 Other CITES listed species 53 18,972  
			  29  73.5 
			 Preparations of oriental medicines that include parts or derivatives of endangered species 20 5,042,728  
			  18  469.3

Travel Expenses Claims

Adrian Flook: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many self-employed individuals who work as temporary workers under a terms of engagement for services arrangement have appealed against Inland Revenue decisions not to grant in full their claims for travel expenses.

Dawn Primarolo: The Inland Revenue does not keep central records of disallowed travel expenses claimed by the self-employed or of appeals against refused claims.
	The general rule for self-employed working under a contract for services is that travel expenses incurred wholly and exclusively for the purposes of a trade are tax deductible.

UK Tax Burden

Andy Reed: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate how much extra tax revenue would be generated if the UK tax burden was at the EU average; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The latest available figures on total tax revenues and social security contributions across the EU are published in "OECD Revenue Statistics 1965–2002", October 2003 edition: p.18—Table A; p.109—Table 38; and p.111—Table 41. A copy of this publication is available in the Library of the House.

Workless Households

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what percentage of children were living in households with no-one in work in each year since 1992.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. David Willetts, dated 15 June 2004
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about children in workless households. (177903)
	The attached table gives the estimates of the number and the percentage of children who were living in workless households for the three months ending May of each year from 1992 to 2003.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) are subject to sampling error.
	
		Children(9) living in workless households(10)—United Kingdom, three months ending May each year from 1992 to 2003
		
			 Thousands, per cent 
			  Children(9) living in workless households(10) 
			 Year Number (thousands) Percent(11) 
		
		
			 1992 2,219 18.8 
			 1993 2,288 19.2 
			 1994 2,398 20.0 
			 1995 2,339 19.4 
			 1996 2,344 19.4 
			 1997 2,163 17.9 
			 1998 2,156 17.9 
			 1999 2,086 17.3 
			 2000 1,896 15.7 
			 2001 1,830 15.3 
			 2002 1,889 15.9 
			 2003 1,796 15.2 
		
	
	(9) Children under 16 years.
	(10) A workless household is a household that includes at least one person of working age, and in which no one aged 16 or over is in employment.
	(11) Children in workless households as a percentage of children in all working age households.
	Note:
	These LFS estimates have not been adjusted to reflect the 2001 Census results.
	Source:
	ONS—Labour Force Survey

Unemployment (Coventry)

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the levels of long-term (a) adult and (b) youth unemployment in Coventry over the last seven years.

Ruth Kelly: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Jim Cunningham, dated 15 June 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about unemployment. (178143)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles statistics of unemployment from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) following International Labour Organisation definitions. However, the LFS sample size is too small to give reliable estimates of unemployment in the Coventry South Constituency.
	ONS also compiles statistics of those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (ISA) for local areas including parliamentary constituencies.
	The table below gives total JSA claimants claiming for over 12 months and those aged 18 to 24 years old claiming for over 12 months for the Coventry South constituency. The figures are annual averages for each year since 1997. The data are not seasonally adjusted.
	
		JSA claimants for over 12 months in the Coventry,South constituency annual averages (computerised claimsonly), 1997–2003
		
			  All ages 18 to 24 years 
		
		
			 1997 1,033 154 
			 1998 772 90 
			 1999 649 19 
			 2000 450 10 
			 2001 357 11 
			 2002 319 12 
			 2003 306 11

WORK AND PENSIONS

Asbestos

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the tonnage of materials containing white asbestos in use by the farming industry; and what the total costs of disposal would be at current prices.

Jane Kennedy: Asbestos is present on a large proportion of farms in the form of asbestos cement sheeting. Much, though not all, of this material contains white asbestos. There is no requirement under the new duty to manage asbestos in non-domestic premises regulation to remove or dispose of asbestos-containing material if it is in good condition. HSE advice is that in this case it is safer to leave it in place and manage it.
	The Regulatory Impact Assessment for the new regulation estimated the total cost of compliance for agricultural buildings at a present value of £180 million over the 50 years, 2000–50. There are approximately 163,540 agricultural premises in Great Britain. The cost of disposal was not estimated separately.

Asbestos

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when farmers will be expected to be fully compliant with the provisions of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002.

Jane Kennedy: The Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 came into force in November 2002 with the exception of Regulation 4: the Duty to Manage Asbestos in Non-Domestic Premises, which came into force on 21 May this year.
	Now that the new duty is in force, HSE expects duty-holders to have adopted a precautionary approach to prevent accidental exposure and to deal with emergency situations. They also expect to see a compliance strategy in place, which should set out how and when the specific steps required in the legislation will be complied with.
	Assuming these steps have been taken, HSE inspectors do not necessarily require farmers or any group to be fully compliant with the duty to manage asbestos in these early stages.
	However, HSE inspectors will take enforcement action where disregard for the Regulation means that people are being put at serious risk of asbestos exposure.

Carers

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how much carers have received in allowances in each of the last 10 years (a) as a total for each year and (b) on average for each carer per week;
	(2)  how many people have registered as full-time carers in each of the last 10 years.

Maria Eagle: The Department does not hold records of the number of full-time carers. Carers may be entitled to carer's allowance if they provide a minimum of 35 hours care per week to a severely disabled person in receipt of either attendance allowance or the highest or middle rate of the care component of disability living allowance. They must also meet the other conditions of entitlement. The numbers of carers in receipt of carer's allowance in each of the last 10 years is in Table 1.
	
		Table 1: Invalid care allowance/carer's allowance1,2
		
			  Caseload (Thousand) Expenditure (£ million) Average weekly amount (£) 
		
		
			 1994–95 261 526 39 
			 1995–96 309 617 38 
			 1996–97 348 736 41 
			 1997–98 371 746 39 
			 1998–99 373 782 40 
			 1999–2000 375 835 43 
			 2000–01 375 867 44 
			 2001–02 380 932 47 
			 2002–03 395 995 48 
			 2003–04 434 1,052 46 
		
	
	(12) Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest thousand; expenditure figures are rounded to the nearest million pounds; average weekly amounts in Table 1 are rounded to the nearest pound, and are derived from the annual caseload and expenditure data.
	(13) It is a basic principle of the social security system that only one benefit at a time can be paid for the same purpose. For example, even though the circumstances that give rise to entitlement to carer's allowance (CA) and state pension (SP) are different, they are both designed to provide a degree of replacement for lost or foregone income. CA replaces income where the carer is over working age or has had to give up the chance of working to look after a severely disabled person, while SP replaces income in retirement. CA is therefore not payable, or not payable in full, in addition to SP The payment of SP takes precedence, either extinguishing or reducing the payment of CA.
	Tables 2 and 3 show expenditure and caseload information for the carer premium in income support and income-based jobseeker's allowance respectively.
	It is not possible to disaggregate other benefit payments to carers, as there may more than one reason for receipt (for example, disability or lone parenthood).
	
		Table 2: Income support carer premium1,2
		
			  Caseload (Thousand) Expenditure (£ million) Carer premium (£) 
		
		
			 1993–94 96 60 11.95 
			 1994–95 121 78 12.40 
			 1995–96 150 98 12.60 
			 1996–97 170 115 13.00 
			 1997–98 182 127 13.35 
			 1998–99 188 134 13.65 
			 1999–2000 194 141 13.95 
			 2000–01 201 149 14.15 
			 2001–02(16) 219 278 24.40 
			 2002–03 237 307 24.80 
			 2003–04 Not available Not available 25.10 
		
	
	(14) Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest thousand; expenditure figures are rounded to the nearest million pounds; average weekly amounts in Table 1 are rounded to the nearest pound, and are derived from the annual caseload and expenditure data.
	(15) Nevertheless, the income of a person in these circumstances will be at least as high as the rate of CA, and is usually higher. In addition, where the benefit cannot be paid, the person will keep underlying entitlement to CA, which gives them access to the carer premium, currently £25.55, in the income-related benefits such as housing benefit and council tax benefit, or a similar additional amount through pension credit.
	(16) Tables 2 and 3 do not take account of recipients' other income. They include information on income support for the unemployed and minimum income guarantee (information for pension credit in 2003–04 is not currently available).
	
		Table 3: Income-based jobseeker's allowance carer premium1,2
		
			  Caseload (Thousand) Expenditure (£ million) Carer premium (£) 
		
		
			 1996–97 Not available Not available 13.00 
			 1997–98 8 5 13.35 
			 1998–99 7 5 13.35 
			 1999–2000 6 4 13.65 
			 2000–01 5 4 14.15 
			 2001–02(19) 4 5 24.40 
			 2002–03 4 5 24.80 
			 2003–04 Not available Not available 25.10 
		
	
	(17) Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest thousand; expenditure figures are rounded to the nearest million pounds; average weekly amounts in Table 1 are rounded to the nearest pound, and are derived from the annual caseload and expenditure data.
	(18) Nevertheless, the income of a person in these circumstances will be at least as high as the rate of CA, and is usually higher. In addition, where the benefit cannot be paid, the person will keep underlying entitlement to CA, which gives them access to the carer premium, currently £25.55, in the income-related benefits such as housing benefit and council tax benefit, or a similar additional amount through pension credit.
	(19) Tables 2 and 3 do not take account of recipients' other income. They include information on income support for the unemployed and minimum income guarantee.
	Note:
	The increase in expenditure in Tables 2 and 3 from 2000–01 to 2001–02 reflects a £10 real increase in the carer premium.

Carers

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what action his Department is taking to support carers.

Maria Eagle: As part of the Government's National Strategy for Carers, substantial improvements have been made to the financial support available to the carers of severely disabled people from social security benefits. These include extending the availability of carer's allowance to new carers aged 65 and over and for up to eight weeks after the death of the person being cared for, increasing the earnings limit for the benefit and linking it to the national insurance lower earnings limit so that it goes up each year. This means that carers can now earn up to £79 per week net of allowable expenses and still be entitled to the benefit. It is therefore possible for a carer to earn well in excess of £79 per week and be entitled to carer's allowance.
	For those entitled to carer's allowance and on low incomes, the carer premium in the income-related benefits and the equivalent amount payable through pension credit has been substantially increased. Carers may also be entitled to other benefits depending on their circumstances. Carers who wish to keep in touch with the labour market can get help, advice and training from personal advisers in Jobcentre Plus.

Departmental Sick Leave

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many days of sick leave were taken in his Department in 2003; how many related to employees suffering (a) stress and (b) other mental health problems; and what the cost was to his Department.

Maria Eagle: 1.7 million days sick leave were taken by DWP staff during 2003, of which 187,900 days were for stress, and 293,600 were for other mental health problems.
	The total cost to the Department of sick leave during 2003 was around £100 million, of which around £28 million was attributed to stress and other mental health problems.
	Source:
	DWP Sickness Absence Model.

Health and Safety Executive

Andrew Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many visits by Band Three Inspectors of the Health and Safety Executive in 2003–04 per week were made in (a) the north west region and (b) the west Midlands region.

Jane Kennedy: In the year to 3 April 2004 Band 3 operational inspectors in operational groups from the Health and Safety Executive's North West and Midlands Divisions made, on average, 3.25 and 3.9 contacts per week respectively.
	During this period new working arrangements were piloted in North West Division with the aim of increasing the amount of time spent by operational inspectors on contact activities. In the period of the pilot (July–December 2003) each operational Band 3 inspector made, on average, 4.4 contacts.

Health and Safety Executive

Andrew Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many of the Band Zero and Band One staff in each of the regions of the Health and Safety Executive received performance awards in financial year 2003–04.

Jane Kennedy: Performance reviews and recommendations for performance awards for the reporting year April 2003 to March 2004 are still being processed. The information will not be available until later in the year.

Health and Safety Executive

Andrew Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many retired employees, and at what grade, have subsequently been re-employed by the Health and Safety Executive since 2001; and what plans he has to cease this policy.

Jane Kennedy: Since 2001 there have been, broken down by grade, the following numbers of re-employed staff:
	
		
			 Grade Number of staff 
		
		
			 Band 1 (grade 6 equivalent): 1 
			 Band 2 (grade 7): 6 
			 Band 3 (SEO): 5 
			 Band 4 (HEO): 2 
			 Band 5 (EO): 0 
			 Band 6 (AO/AA): 2 
		
	
	As these individual cases are based on justified business needs, there are no plans to review the current policy until such time as the provisions of the EU Directive "establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation" commonly known as the "Employment Directive" (2000/78/EC) and the provisions specifically relating to discrimination on the grounds of age have been implemented into UK legislation (by the end of 2006).

Incapacity Benefit

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what the average duration of an incapacity benefit claim has been in each year since 1997;
	(2)  what has been the average duration of a claim for incapacity benefit in each year since 1995.

Maria Eagle: Information is not available in the format requested. The available information is in the table.
	
		Incapacity benefits claimants by duration of claims to date -- Percentage
		
			  November 
			 Duration of claim to date 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 0–3 months 6 5 5 5 
			 3–6 months 5 4 5 4 
			 6–12 months 7 7 7 7 
			 1–2 years 11 11 11 10 
			 2–5 years 26 25 23 23 
			 5+ years 46 47 50 51 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The figures provided are for length of incapacity benefits claims to date, as data on the average length of completed claims is unavailable.
	2. Reliable information on the duration of claims prior to 2000 is unavailable.
	Source:
	Incapacity Benefit quarterly figures, 5 per cent. sample.
	The incapacity benefits caseload is now broadly stable after more than 20 years of significant growth. However, we are determined to help people on these benefits realise their aspirations of a return to work. The Pathways to Work approach, which combines specialist advice, mandatory work-focused interviews, rehabilitation provision, and financial incentives is the most advanced welfare to work policy for this group anywhere in the world.

Mobile Jobcentres

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many mobile jobcentres have been established; in which areas they have operated; how many people have been obliged to attend work-focused interviews as a result; and how many people have found work as a result.

Jane Kennedy: We have established no mobile jobcentres. We do however acknowledge the need to reach out to the communities that we serve. We do have mobile information services that go into the community to provide information and advice. They do not carry out work-focused interviews.
	For example an Ethnic Minority Outreach service provider in North London uses a mobile bus service to meet customers on their doorsteps, bringing access to a range of job and training opportunities. Action Teams make use of mobile units to reach jobless residents who would not normally register with Jobcentre Plus services. The St. Helens Action Team, for example, reached out to 46 eligible customers with their mobile units in May 2004, placing 27 of them into work.

Departmental Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the visits abroad made by his Department's (a) special advisers and (b) unpaid advisers without Ministers in their official capacity in each year since 1996–97.

Maria Eagle: Since 1 April 2002, departmental special advisers have travelled abroad on one occasion, to Boston and Washington, USA at a cost of £4,900.00. Information prior to 1 April 2002 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The Department has no unpaid advisers.

Departmental Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the external speeches his Department's (a) special advisers and (b) unpaid advisers have made in their official capacity in each year since 1996–97.

Maria Eagle: Since 1 April 2002, the Department's special advisers have made no external speeches in an official capacity. Information prior to 1 April 2002 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The Department has no unpaid advisers.

Departmental Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will list the attributable (a) articles and (b) contributions that his Department's (i) special advisers and (ii) unpaid advisers have made to newspapers, magazines, journals, books and other media in their official capacity in each year since 1996–97;
	(2)  if he will list the attributable interviews that his Department's (a) special advisers and (b) unpaid advisers have given to newspapers, magazines and other media in their official capacity in each year since 1996–97.

Maria Eagle: Special advisers' contacts with the media are conducted in accordance with the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers. Since 1 April 2002, the Department's special advisers have given no attributable articles, contributions or interviews to these media. Information prior to 1 April 2002 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The Department has no unpaid advisers.

Departmental Special Advisers

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the appearances that his Department's (a) special advisers and (b) unpaid advisers have made before parliamentary select committees in their official capacity in each year since 1996–97.

Maria Eagle: Since 1 April 2002, the Department's special advisers have made no appearances before parliamentary select committees in their official capacity. Information prior to 1 April 2002 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The Department has no unpaid advisers.

Disabled Workers

Lorna Fitzsimons: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the measures introduced to improve the working conditions of disabled workers in the parliamentary constituency of Rochdale over the last seven years.

Maria Eagle: We have a number of measures in place nationally to help improve conditions for disabled people at work, as well as measures to improve their access to services generally. None of these are specific to Rochdale, but all are available to disabled people who live and work there.
	From 1996, the employment provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act required most employers of 20 or more staff not to discriminate against, and to make reasonable adjustments for, disabled job applicants or employees; in December 1998, we reduced this threshold to 15 employees. From October this year, the small employer exemption will be removed and most currently excluded occupations, such as police officers, fire-fighters, and partners in business partnerships will be brought within the scope of the Disability Discrimination Act employment provisions.
	Jobcentre Plus runs a number of specialist programmes providing help for disabled people, including New Deal for Disabled People, Workstep, Access to Work, the Job Introduction Scheme, and Work Preparation. All these programmes provide practical advice and support to disabled people and their employers to help overcome work-related obstacles resulting from disability. Since 1997–98, there have been year-on-year increases in both numbers helped and programme spend.
	To help people access appropriate help, Jobcentre Plus has established a network of Disability Service Teams. The teams are made up of Disability Employment Advisers, Access to Work Advisers and Occupational Psychologists; their services are accessed through local Jobcentres.
	Since April 2003, disabled people in work have been receiving financial support through the working tax credit. This is available if a person is working an average of at least 16 hours per week (self-employed or for an employer); and have a disability which puts them at a disadvantage in getting a job. 70,000 families (including over 32,000 adults without children) are benefiting from the disability element within the working tax credit, compared to 38,000 who benefited from the old disabled person's tax credit.

Tax Credits

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimates he has made of the number of his Department's staff who act as appointees of applicants for tax credits.

Maria Eagle: The information is not available.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Cash Incentive Scheme

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many Cash Incentive Scheme grants were made by each local authority in 2003–04; and what the total value of these grants was in each authority.

Keith Hill: Information on Cash Incentive Scheme grants made in 2003–04 will not be available until autumn 2004. The number of Cash Incentive grants made and the total expenditure by each local authority in 2002–03 has been made available in the Libraries of the Houses. In England, local authorities reported that 574 Cash Incentive Scheme grants were made, with a value of around £8.95 million.

Cash Incentive Scheme

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his response to Recommendation 18 of the Home Ownership Task Force, if he will commission research into the strategic benefits of Cash Incentive Scheme grants.

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is committed to encouraging social tenants to move into home ownership where they can afford to do so, while minimising unnecessary loss of social housing. The Home Ownership Task Force was established to help with this objective. We have or are already taking forward the majority of its recommendations. Consideration is still being given to the research project on Cash Incentive Schemes recommended by the Task Force alongside other priorities for the limited research funds for 2004–05.

Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions

Jim Cousins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the (a) nature and (b) value was of contracts, consultancies and other services placed with (i) Deloitte and Touche, (ii) Ernst and Young, (iii) KPMG and (iv) Pricewaterhouse Coopers since 2000–01 by the former Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions and its agencies.

Yvette Cooper: The value of contracts placed by the former Department for Transport Local Government and the Regions and its agencies for the years 2000–01 and 2001–02 with the suppliers detailed in the question was as follows.
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 PWC 4,239,936 
			 Ernst and Young 112,000 
			 Deloitte & Touche 860,831 
			 KPMG 2,292,625 
		
	
	The nature of such contracts across the Department and its agencies can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Government Office of the West Midlands

Howard Flight: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total expenditure on consultants and contractors for the Government Office of the West Midlands was in each year since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: Detailed expenditure of this type is no longer available for 1997–98. Also, expenditure on "contractors" is not recorded separately from a wide range of general administrative costs. "Consultants" costs are recorded under the heading of professional services for which total expenditure was as follows:
	Professional Services
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1998–99 41,000 
			 1999–2000 115,000 
			 2000–01 119,000 
			 2001–02 68,000 
			 2002–03 58,000 
			 2003–04 560,000 
		
	
	The 2003–04 data involves a change of definition and is not compatible with previous figures.

Homebuy Loans (London)

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many Homebuy loans were made in each local authority area in London in 2003–04.

Keith Hill: A total of 1,061 home purchases were completed with Homebuy loans, funded by the Housing Corporation through its Approved Development Programme, in London in 2003–04. The following table shows a breakdown of the total by local authority area.
	
		
			 Local authority Number 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 38 
			 Barnet 27 
			 Bexley 48 
			 Brent 21 
			 Bromley 57 
			 Camden 3 
			 Croydon 61 
			 Ealing 42 
			 Enfield 57 
			 Greenwich 91 
			 Hackney 23 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 12 
			 Haringey 41 
			 Harrow 13 
			 Havering 36 
			 Hillingdon 52 
			 Hounslow 34 
			 Islington 16 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 3 
			 Kingston upon Thames 27 
			 Lambeth 20 
			 Lewisham 46 
			 Merton 25 
			 Newham 24 
			 Redbridge 41 
			 Richmond upon Thames 10 
			 Southwark 17 
			 Sutton 51 
			 Tower Hamlets 15 
			 Waltham Forest 71 
			 Wandsworth 29 
			 Westminster 10 
			 Total 1,061

Homebuy Loans (London)

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many Homebuy loans were made to (a) those in social housing, (b) those on housing waiting lists and (c) key workers in London in 2003–04.

Keith Hill: 1,061 home purchases with Homebuy loans were completed in London during 2003–04. From a Housing Corporation survey, CORE Sales, at least 211 of these Homebuy loans were given to tenants in social housing and at least 59 to people on housing waiting lists. The Housing Corporation's investment system shows that over 400 of the loans were made to key workers in London.

Local Authority Websites

Roger Berry: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how the Government are tackling access barriers to disabled people on local government websites.

Phil Hope: Under the local e-Government programme the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is supporting a national project called LAWS—Local Authority Websites, to develop guidance for local authorities on best practice for designing and managing websites. One of the issues addressed is website accessibility, including for disabled people. Ensuring that their websites are accessible to all their citizens is fundamental to the design of individual authorities' websites. Another national project, e-SB—the Standards Body, will incorporate website accessibility information into the forthcoming website standards for local authorities.

Housing Corporation (Crosby)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much public funding has been spent from the Housing Corporation Programme in Crosby.

Keith Hill: The following table shows the Housing Corporation Social Housing Grant expenditure in Sefton for the past five years.
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 1999–00 6.711 
			 2000–01 4.768 
			 2001–02 3.816 
			 2002–03 6.000 
			 2003–04 4.663 
		
	
	The Housing Corporation gathers information at local authority level, therefore information for the constituency of Crosby is not available. Crosby is within the local authority of Sefton.

Regional Assemblies (Referendums)

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister on what date the proposed referendums on regional assemblies will take place; and whether the voting will be all-postal.

Nick Raynsford: The Government intend to hold the referendums this autumn by all-postal ballot. We will be laying orders to that effect this summer.

Social Housing

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many (a) local authority and (b) housing association lettings were made in each Government Office Region in each year since 1980.

Keith Hill: The number of local authority and housing association lettings made in each Government Office region are tabled as follows.
	In the table, information on local authority lettings is provided for the years 1979–80 to 2002–03 and on housing association lettings for the years 1995–96 to 2003–04.
	
		Social sector lettings in England and the regions
		
			  England North East Yorkshire and the Humber East Midlands East of England London South East South West West Midlands North West 
		
		
			 Total lettings by local authority 
			 1979–80 412,200 35,400 54,300 38,000 37,900 57,900 44,400 29,800 51,000 63,600 
			 1980–81 444,000 39,800 57,500 35,900 n/a 68,200 n/a 27,800 53,600 67,300 
			 1981–82 415,500 36,300 52,800 32,700 32,400 81,400 41,000 25,700 47,400 65,900 
			 1982–83 439,500 40,500 55,500 36,600 35,200 71,800 44,900 29,200 52,600 73,100 
			 1983–84 429,100 36,800 57,400 35,600 36,200 70,200 43,500 29,200 50,200 70,000 
			 1984–85 429,300 38,900 54,700 36,400 34,100 66,200 45,300 29,600 53,300 70,700 
			 1985–86 436,600 38,900 59,800 36,800 36,600 63,900 45,600 29,500 55,900 69,700 
			 1986–87 430,200 39,600 59,300 36,900 33,600 59,800 44,800 29,200 56,100 70,900 
			 1987–88 425,800 38,200 57,400 34,500 33,300 59,200 43,300 27,900 57,100 75,000 
			 1988–89 410,200 38,600 55,400 33,400 30,500 58,300 42,700 26,800 53,300 71,400 
			 1989–90 390,300 37,800 51,200 30,600 30,700 57,300 40,600 25,500 49,200 67,300 
			 1990–91 400,900 35,000 51,900 31,400 34,400 65,200 41,200 27,500 48,700 65,700 
			 1991–92 406,500 36,800 52,200 31,300 32,200 71,400 40,300 28,300 51,500 62,500 
			 1992–93 399,900 37,000 52,200 32,000 31,400 67,000 38,900 27,300 50,700 63,200 
			 1993–94 404,900 36,400 51,600 34,500 32,500 65,800 38,600 28,700 53,400 63,400 
			 1994–95 407,900 39,000 56,800 34,300 31,500 62,900 35,600 27,300 53,600 66,900 
			 1995–96 415,200 41,000 58,700 35,500 31,900 61,300 34,200 27,400 54,000 71,200 
			 1996–97 422,000 42,200 59,900 39,100 32,100 62,300 32,400 26,700 56,200 71,000 
			 1997–98 403,900 41,500 56,900 38,200 31,400 57,600 30,300 24,300 53,200 70,500 
			 1998–99 379,200 39,500 56,000 37,400 30,700 48,200 28,300 21,400 49,300 68,500 
			 1999–2000 353,900 38,600 55,900 33,900 29,000 42,100 25,800 18,800 45,200 64,700 
			 2000–01 326,600 36,500 53,300 32,500 27,200 39,300 23,800 16,500 40,100 57,300 
			 2001–02 289,700 29,700 49,300 29,200 25,700 35,200 20,500 15,400 33,600 51,100 
			 2002–03 272,800 26,900 49,000 29,100 22,700 34,300 21,200 14,200 31,000 44,400 
			 England   
			 Total lettings by housing association 
			 1995–96 135,700 8,100 22,200 11,500 9,700 13,800 11,600 13,900 23,000 21,900 
			 1996–97 187,200 9,600 29,300 16,500 13,500 20,000 15,500 17,800 35,500 29,500 
			 1997–98 202,800 10,000 33,600 20,300 15,400 22,300 16,500 19,300 36,100 29,400 
			 1998–99 212,000 11,300 35,300 21,300 15,600 24,000 18,800 20,300 35,300 30,100 
			 1999–2000 214,300 11,300 37,500 21,100 16,100 24,900 21,500 19,700 32,800 29,500 
			 2000–01 214,000 11,600 39,100 20,200 16,900 26,800 20,100 18,800 32,400 28,100 
			 2001–02 224,200 15,500 42,800 20,400 16,600 29,100 20,200 18,100 32,600 29,000 
			 2002–03 225,100 15,400 44,500 21,400 16,700 28,100 19,900 19,000 32,100 27,900 
			 2003–04 212,400 13,100 41,100 21,300 15,600 28,400 18,400 18,400 28,900 27,200 
		
	
	Notes:
	n/a = denotes that information is unavailable.
	1. Regional totals include estimates for non-response.
	2. The number of lettings given by local authorities includes any transfers and exchanges, as well as secure and non-secure lettings.
	3. The number of lettings given by housing associations includes those for general as well as supported needs.
	Figures for 1995–96 include only lettings given for general needs.

Social Housing

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of new social housing for rent built in each year since 1990 had three or more bedrooms.

Keith Hill: The percentages of registered social landlord (RSL) new build completions in England that had at least three bedrooms are shown in the table. Equivalent figures for local authority new build are not readily available.
	
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 1990–91 20 
			 1991–92 20 
			 1992–93 26 
			 1993–94 31 
			 1994–95 34 
			 1995–96 35 
			 1996–97 36 
			 1997–98 39 
			 1998–99 38 
			 1999–2000 37 
			 2000–01 35 
			 2001–02 33 
			 2002–03 38 
			 2003–04 32

Social Housing

Oona King: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will add to his Department's Public Service Agreement 5 a performance indicator for the number of families with children living in overcrowded housing.

Keith Hill: No. The Office's Public Service Agreement 5 underpins the Government's commitment to improve the balance between supply and demand for housing. In this context, the main function of a performance indicator for overcrowding would be to monitor progress in alleviating the position of those at the bottom of the housing ladder. However, PSA5 already incorporates such an indicator— number of statutory homeless households with children in temporary accommodation. The further indicator proposed here would simply cover the same ground, albeit from a slightly different perspective.

Temporary Accommodation (Children)

Phil Willis: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many children were living in temporary accommodation in each year since 1997, broken down by region; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: Information on the number of children living in temporary accommodation is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Information on the number of households that contain dependent children and/or expectant mothers in various types of temporary accommodation has been collected since March 2002. The following table shows this information by Government Office Region for all eight quarters since March 2002.
	
		Homeless households(20) with dependent children in all forms of temporary accommodation by Government Office Region
		
			  2002 2003 
			  March June September December March June September December 
		
		
			 North East(21) 270 440 1,220 280 220 300 250 360 
			 North West 990 1,110 1,200 1,130 1,230 1,280 1,450 1,220 
			 Yorkshire and Number 800 970 960 1,080 1,160 1,190 1,140 1,120 
			 East Midlands 1,350 1,620 1,560 1,500 1,650 1,770 1,890 1,930 
			 West Midlands 1,030 800 1,100 800 870 860 1,090 1,130 
			 East of England 3,840 3,710 3,850 4,030 4,740 5,070 5,460 4,990 
			 London 20,860 26,320 31,190 29,120 31,100 31,400 33,660 34,380 
			 South East 7,560 8,270 9,110 7,310 8,760 9,170 8,800 8,540 
			 South West 3,110 3,710 4,030 2,740 3,350 4,250 4,100 3,480 
			 England(22) 39,810 46,950 54,220 47,980 53,070 55,280 57,840 57,140 
		
	
	(20) Households in accommodation arranged by local authorities pending inquiries or after being accepted as homeless under the 1996 Act (including any residual cases under the 1985 Act).
	(21) Figures for December 2002 onwards reflect changes in lettings policies by a local authority in the region.
	(22) Totals may not equal the sum of components because of rounding.

Urban Regeneration

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what funding has been allocated to the Liveability Fund for financial year (a) 2004–05 and (b) 2005–06, broken down by region; and what funding plans are in place to continue the work of the Liveability Fund from financial year 2005–06 onwards.

Keith Hill: The Liveability Fund allocations, by region, for these two years are as follows:
	
		
			 Region 2004–05 2005–06 
		
		
			 East of England 4,310,500 4,425,000 
			 East Midlands 4,010,000 4,030,000 
			 London 4,680,000 4,555,000 
			 North East 3,664,730 3,760,000 
			 North West 4,170,000 4,170,000 
			 South East 4,692,400 4,105,000 
			 South West 4,534,640 4,425,000 
			 West Midlands 4,769,636 4,650,000 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 4,441,000 4,380,000 
			 Total 39,272,906 38,500,000 
		
	
	Funding plans for future years are currently under consideration as part of the on-going 2004 Spending Review.

Urban Regeneration

Edward Davey: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what funding from (a) his Department and (b) non-departmental public bodies has been allocated to urban regeneration companies for financial year (i) 2005–06 and (ii) 2006–07.

Keith Hill: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister does not provide funding directly to any urban regeneration company (URC). All funding is provided by the partners in each URC. This usually comprises the Regional Development Agency (RDA), the local authority or authorities, and English Partnerships (EP). The following table shows the revenue funding that EP and the various RDAs estimate will be allocated to the individual URCs for 2005–06 and 2006–07, based on current projections. Capital funding for development projects is not normally provided to the URCs themselves; expenditure on projects is incurred by the partners on the basis of agreed strategies in pursuit of URC objectives.
	
		Revenue Allocations to URCs -- £
		
			 URC 2005–06 2006–07 
		
		
			 Bradford City Regeneration 845,000 845,000 
			 CPR Regeneration 544,000 544,000 
			 Catalyst Corby 544,000 544,000 
			 Derby Cityscape 544,000 544,000 
			 Gloucester Heritage 544,000 544,000 
			 Hull Citybuild 693,000 693,000 
			 Leicester Regeneration 540,000 560,000 
			 Liverpool Vision 771,000 771,000 
			 New East Manchester 713,000 736,000 
			 RegencoSandwell 544,000 544,000 
			 Sheffield One 746,000 746,000 
			 Sunderland Arc 660,000 660,000 
			 The New Swindon Company 544,000 544,000 
			 Tees Valley Regeneration 623,000 623,000 
			 Walsall 544,000 544,000 
			 West Lakes Renaissance 200,000 200,000 
			 Total 9,599,000 9,642,000 
		
	
	Note:
	The West Lakes URC does not receive revenue funding from English Partnerships (EP). All other figures are collated EP and Regional Development Agency estimates. Where appropriate, the figures include funding to cover non-recoverable VAT.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Action Against Business Crime Group

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which towns and communities in Wales have benefited from Action Against Business Crime Group grants; and how much grant has been allocated to each town or community, broken down by constituency.

Paul Goggins: The Action Against Business Crime Group has not yet allocated funds to any individual towns or communities. The Home Office agreed a contract with the British Retail Consortium to set up the Action against Business Crime Group in March 2004 and Government funding has been provided to enable the Group to set up partnerships in priority locations. The Home Office will work with the Group to identify the criteria for priority locations, but it will be for them to decide how best to allocate the funding provided in order to meet the agreed outcomes.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders were (a) sought and (b) achieved in each district council area in Gloucestershire for each year since the introduction of this legislation.

Hazel Blears: Antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) have been available, on application to the magistrates courts, since 1 April 1999. The Police Reform Act 2002 authorised the magistrates courts and the Crown court to issue ASBOs on conviction, and the county courts (from 1 April 2003) to issue ASBOs on application, alongside other proceedings. Information, as notified to the Home Office, is given in the table, by local authority area and result, up to 31 December 2003 (latest available), on the number of ASBOs within Gloucestershire.
	
		Number of ASBO applications, by result, and the number given on conviction, in Gloucestershire, by local authority area, as notified to the Home Office, 1 April 1999(23) to 31 December 2003
		
			  ASBOs on application(24) ASBOs on conviction  
			 Period/local authority area Total applications Total refused Total issued Total issued Total issued on application/on conviction 
		
		
			 1 June 2000 to 31 December 2000  
			 Cheltenham borough council 1 — 1 n/a 1 
			 Forest of Dean district council 1 — 1 n/a 1 
			 Sub-total 2 — 2 n/a 2 
			   
			 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2001  
			 Cheltenham borough council 2 — 2 n/a 2 
			 Sub-total 2 — 2 n/a 2 
			   
			 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2002  
			 Cheltenham borough council 1 — 1 — 1 
			 Sub-total 1 — 1 — 1 
			   
			 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2003  
			 Cheltenham borough council 2 — 2 — 2 
			 Gloucester city council — — — 1 1 
			 Stroud district council 2 — 2 — 2 
			 Sub-total 4 — 4 1 5 
			 Total 9 — 9 1 10 
		
	
	n/a = Not applicable.
	(23) From 1 April 1999 to 31 May 2DOO data were collected by police force area on ASBO numbers only. During this period no ASBOs were reported to the Home Office for Gloucestershire.
	(24) Only covers applications dealt with by 31 December 2003.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been (a) sought and (b) granted in the Greater London area; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) have been available, on application to the magistrates courts, since 1 April 1999. The Police Reform Act 2002 authorised the magistrates courts and the Crown court to issue ASBOs on conviction, and the county courts (from 1 April 2003) to issue ASBOs on application, alongside other proceedings. Information, as notified to the Home Office, is given in the table, by result, up to 31 December 2003 (latest available), on the number of ASBOs within Greater London.
	
		Number of ASBO applications, by result, and the number given on conviction, in Greater London, as notified to the Home Office, 1 April 1999 to 31 December 2003
		
			 ASBOs on application Number 
		
		
			 Total applications 121 
			 Total refused 9 
			 Total issued 112 
			   
			 ASBOs on conviction  
			 Total issued 42 
			 Total issued on application/on conviction 154

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Lorna Fitzsimons: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been issued in the parliamentary constituency of Rochdale.

Hazel Blears: Antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) have been available to the courts since 1 April 1999. From commencement, up to 31 December 2003 (latest available), the Home Office has been notified of 20 ASBOs issued within the Rochdale metropolitan borough council area, in which the constituency of Rochdale is located.

Asylum Seekers

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government are taking to improve the removals process and to ensure that it is transparent and fair.

Des Browne: The Government are committed to identifying and removing those who have no right to be here by ensuring a transparent and fair system where all applicants are treated humanely and fairly and only seeking to return those who have no legal basis of stay in the UK. This is done by having an internal complaints procedure and an independent appeal system established by Parliament to resolve disputes between the Home Office and applicants who feel that their applications for leave to remain or asylum have not been properly assessed or the correct decision reached.
	We are constantly striving to improve the way this process works by continually monitoring and reviewing internal procedures and practices.

Asylum Seekers

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was spent on the removal of failed asylum seekers; and how many asylum seekers were removed, in each year since 1997.

Des Browne: holding answer 18 May 2004
	The information is as follows:
	(a) The cost of the removal of failed asylum seekers is not disaggregated from the overall costs of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) and therefore not readily available. Any attempt to calculate the cost of removal of failed asylum seekers would need to take into account a large number of factors and this could be done only at disproportionate cost. However the total public spending for IND is set out in the published Home Office report.
	(b) The number of asylum seekers who were removed in each year since 1997 is shown in the table.
	
		Removals and voluntary departures(25) of asylum applicants, excluding dependants, 1997 to 2003
		
			  Principal applicants Dependants(26) Total(26) 
		
		
			 1997 7,165 n/a n/a 
			 1998 6,990 n/a n/a 
			 1999 7,665 n/a n/a 
			 2000 8,980 n/a n/a 
			 2001 9,285 1,495 10,780 
			 2002(27) 10,740 3,170 13,910 
			 2003(27) 12,490 4,550 17,040 
		
	
	n/a = Not available.
	(25) Includes persons departing 'Voluntarily' after enforcement action had been initiated against them, persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes run by the International Organisation for Migration, and removals on safe third country
	grounds.
	(26) Data on dependants removed have only been collected since April 2001.
	(27) Provisional figures.
	Note:
	Figures rounded to the nearest five, with* = one or two, and may not sum due to rounding.

Church Yards

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for closure of church yards have been refused in the past five years.

Paul Goggins: The Home Office does not keep a record of this information. However, the majority of applications that fail do so because they do not fall within the main criteria for closure as agreed by the Home Office, local authority representatives and representatives of the Church of England:
	There is no proper room for new graves;
	Further burials would be contrary to decency;
	Discontinuance of burials would prevent or mitigate nuisance;
	Further burials would constitute a health risk.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter to him dated 27 April from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Ihsan Mehrobi and Ms Bethan Galliers.

David Blunkett: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 10 June 2004.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter to him dated 22 April from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. N. Sibanda.

David Blunkett: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 10 June 2004.

Court Attendance (Merseyside)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to reduce the non-attendance of witnesses and defendants in Merseyside.

Paul Goggins: The Government's Criminal Case Management Programme will reduce the non-attendance of defendants and witnesses. It is made up of three complementary strands: ensuring that charges are more appropriately brought; providing victims and witnesses with proper care and attention; and ensuring that trials are effectively managed.
	Witness care units are currently at the planning stage in Merseyside and will be introduced for Crown courts towards the end of this year and in the magistrates courts in 2005. As part of its delivery plan to improve public confidence in the criminal justice system, Merseyside Criminal Justice Board carried out a survey examining reasons for witness non-attendance. The results will be used as part of the planning process for the introduction of witness care units. For example, one petty sessional area found that if witnesses were contacted by telephone shortly before they were due to appear, attendance increased, and consequently, this practice is being rolled out across Merseyside.
	The Effective Trial Management Programme will be implemented in Merseyside in November. It includes specific measures to improve defendant attendance at court hearings through the early communication of the benefits of co-operating with the process and the potential consequences of non-attendance, as well as improved enforcement procedures for non-attendance.
	There are a number of warrant enforcement initiatives in place in Merseyside to ensure that defendants are brought to justice for failing to appear in court. Bench warrants in Merseyside are circulated on the Police National Computer as soon as they are received from the courts, with priority given to persistent offender and street crime offences. Merseyside police have also run Operation 'Cardsharp' in which defendants were sent letters following their failure to appear, informing them that a warrant had been issued and advising them to surrender to the court or face police visits. This initiative proved to be a success, with defendants surrendering themselves to the court after receiving the letter, and over 1,000 warrants executed in the month the operation was running. It is continuing to operate successfully in Merseyside, and has now been recognised as best practice nationally.

Drug Offences (London)

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) arrests have been made, (b) convictions have been obtained and (c) cautions have been issued in (i) Greater London and (ii) each London borough for offences relating to (A) possession and (B) dealing in (1) Class A, (2) Class B and (3) Class C drugs in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Hazel Blears: Information collected centrally on arrests is broken down only into the main offence groups. Within the "drug offences" group we are unable to identify different classes of drugs or different kinds of offences.
	The information contained in the tables relates to persons found guilty of possession of, or dealing in Class A, B and C drugs, 1998 to 2002, in each borough in outer London and each magistrates court in inner London (it is not possible from the statistics collected centrally to identify boroughs in inner London). The figures include persons found guilty at the Crown court when committed for trial or sentence from the courts/boroughs shown. Caution data cannot be broken down beyond police force area in the statistics collected centrally, and is given as a total for the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police Force area.
	Statistics on court proceedings and cautions for 2003 will be published in the autumn.
	
		Number(28) of persons cautioned by the Metropolitan or City of London Police, or found guilty of certain drug offences in Greater London(29) by magistrates court/London Borough: 2002(28)
		
			  Possession 
			  Class A drug Class B drug Class C drug 
			  Cautioned Found guilty Cautioned Found guilty Cautioned Found guilty 
		
		
			 Inner London magistrates courts(29)   
			 City of London Police   
			 Guildhall Justice Rooms (30)— 23 (30)— 54 (30)— (30)— 
			 Total City of London Police 31 23 448 54 1 (30)— 
			
			 Metropolitan police   
			 Bow Street (30)— 206 (30)— 286 (30)— 3 
			 Camberwell Green/Tower Bridge (30)— 227 (30)— 338 (30)— 1 
			 Greenwich/Woolwich (30)— 105 (30)— 333 (30)— (30)— 
			 Highbury Corner (30)— 164 (30)— 314 (30)— 1 
			 Horseferry Road (30)— 121 (30)— 266 (30)— (30)— 
			 Marylebone (30)— — (30)— 4 (30)— (30)— 
			 South Western (30)— 75 (30)— 312 (30)— (30)— 
			 Thames (30)— 205 (30)— 448 (30)— (30)— 
			 West London (30)— 124 (30)— 435 (30)— 1 
			
			 Outer London boroughs   
			 Metropolitan Police   
			 Barking and Dagenham (30)— 51 (30)— 185 (30)— (30)— 
			 Barnet (30)— 21 (30)— 145 (30)— (30)— 
			 Bexley (30)— 31 (30)— 84 (30)— (30)— 
			 Brent (30)— 97 (30)— 237 (30)— (30)— 
			 Bromley (30)— 33 (30)— 117 (30)— (30)— 
			 Croydon (30)— 51 (30)— 236 (30)— (30)— 
			 Ealing (30)— 131 (30)— 212 (30)— (30)— 
			 Enfield (30)— 42 (30)— 142 (30)— (30)— 
			 Haringey (30)— 104 (30)— 348 (30)— 2 
			 Harrow (30)— 37 (30)— 80 (30)— (30)— 
			 Havering (30)— 107 (30)— 88 (30)— (30)— 
			 Hillingdon (30)— 55 (30)— 182 (30)— (30)— 
			 Hounslow (30)— 76 (30)— 166 (30)— (30)— 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames (30)— 66 (30)— 71 (30)— (30)— 
			 Merton (30)— 15 (30)— 79 (30)— (30)— 
			 Newham (30)— 92 (30)— 271 (30)— (30)— 
			 Redbridge (30)— 26 (30)— 99 (30)— (30)— 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames (30)— 17 (30)— 95 (30)— (30)— 
			 Sutton (30)— 15 (30)— 61 (30)— (30)— 
			 Waltham Forest (30)— 50 (30)— 156 (30)— 1 
			 Total Metropolitan Police 595 2,344 10,612 5,790 31 9 
			 Total Greater London 626 2,367 11,060 5,844 32 9 
		
	
	
		
			  Dealing 
			  Class A drug  Class B drug  Class C drug 
			  Cautioned Found guilty Cautioned Found guilty Cautioned Found guilty 
		
		
			 Inner London magistrates courts(29)   
			 City of London Police   
			 Guildhall Justice Rooms (30)— 12 (30)— 5 (30)— (30)— 
			 Total City of London Police 595 12 10,612 5 31 (30)— 
			
			 Metropolitan police   
			 Bow Street (30)— 20 (30)— 16 (30)— 2 
			 Camberwell Green/Tower Bridge (30)— 104 (30)— 52 (30)— (30)— 
			 Greenwich/Woolwich (30)— 74 (30)— 38 (30)— (30)— 
			 Highbury Corner (30)— 97 (30)— 41 (30)— (30)— 
			 Horseferry Road (30)— 58 (30)— 26 (30)— (30)— 
			 Marylebone (30)— (30)— (30)— 1 (30)— (30)— 
			 South Western (30)— 24 (30)— 17 (30)— (30)— 
			 Thames (30)— 104 (30)— 33 (30)— (30)— 
			 West London (30)— 47 (30)— 23 (30)— 1 
			
			 Outer London boroughs   
			 Metropolitan Police   
			 Barking and Dagenham (30)— 4 (30)— 11 (30)— (30)— 
			 Barnet (30)— 18 (30)— 14 (30)— (30)— 
			 Bexley (30)— 6 (30)— 12 (30)— (30)— 
			 Brent (30)— 24 (30)— 22 (30)— (30)— 
			 Bromley (30)— 8 (30)— 8 (30)— (30)— 
			 Croydon (30)— 34 (30)— 23 (30)— (30)— 
			 Ealing (30)— 36 (30)— 15 (30)— (30)— 
			 Enfield (30)— 1 (30)— 3 (30)— (30)— 
			 Haringey (30)— 24 (30)— 27 (30)— (30)— 
			 Harrow (30)— 10 (30)— 8 (30)— (30)— 
			 Havering (30)— 8 (30)— 6 (30)— (30)— 
			 Hillingdon (30)— 548 (30)— 197 (30)— 3 
			 Hounslow (30)— 13 (30)— 15 (30)— (30)— 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames (30)— 11 (30)— 10 (30)— (30)— 
			 Merton (30)— 4 (30)— 8 (30)— (30)— 
			 Newham (30)— 33 (30)— 23 (30)— (30)— 
			 Redbridge (30)— 12 (30)— 11 (30)— (30)— 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames (30)— 5 (30)— 12 (30)— (30)— 
			 Sutton (30)— 13 (30)— 4 (30)— (30)— 
			 Waltham Forest (30)— 12 (30)— 12 (30)— (30)— 
			 Total Metropolitan Police 33 1,352 179 688 (30)— 6 
			 Total Greater London 628 1,364 10,791 693 31 6 
		
	
	(28) These data are on the principal offence basis
	(29) Information held centrally does not allow a breakdown of cases by borough in the inner London area
	(30) Not available

Criminal Records Bureau

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of how long the Criminal Records Bureau is taking to process applications from voluntary organisations.

Hazel Blears: Information is not available to determine how long the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) is taking to process applications from voluntary organisations; this information is not held centrally.
	The CRB continually assesses its performance against its service standards across all sectors and aims to make further improvements to the service it provides. Since June 2003, the CRB has been issuing on average 93 per cent. of all Standard and Enhanced Disclosures within two and four weeks respectively, against published service standards of 90 per cent.

Drug Treatment and Testing Orders

Phil Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drug treatment and testing orders have been issued in (a) England and Wales and (b) Scotland in each year for which figures are available.

Paul Goggins: The number of drug treatment and testing orders (DTTOs) made since roll-out of the order across England and Wales in October 2000 is:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2000–01 (six months) 1,256 
			 2001–02 4,854 
			 2002–03 6,145 
			 2003–04 8,515 
		
	
	The number of DTTOs imposed by Scottish courts since 2000 is:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2000 59 
			 2001 198 
			 2002 342 
			 2003 348 
			 2004 (to 21 May 2004) 171

Dungavel Family Unit

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the Church and Nation Committee of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland about the family unit at Dungavel.

Des Browne: holding answer 7 June 2004
	My predecessor, my right hon. Friend, the Member for Stretford and Urmston, (Beverley Hughes) met representatives of the Church and Nation Committee of the Church of Scotland at the end of October 2003. Discussions included the family unit at Dungavel.

Durham Jail

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the total capacity in Durham jail in each of the next 10 years.

Paul Goggins: The operational capacity at Her Majesty's Prison Durham, as at Friday 28 May, is 638 for male prisoners and 110 for female prisoners.
	Following the change of function, the Area Manager will set the operational capacity of Her Majesty's Prison Durham taking into account control, security the proper operation of the planned regime and the alterations that are currently being made to parts of the residential accommodation.
	It is not possible to give figures for each of the next 10 years.

Gas Cartridge Weapons

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many self-contained gas cartridge weapons were surrendered to the police on or before 30 April;
	(2)  how many firearm certificates were issued to owners of self-contained gas cartridge weapons on or before 30 April;
	(3)  how many self-contained gas cartridge weapons he estimates there are in the UK.

Caroline Flint: I understand from the Association of Chief Police Officers that as at 30 April a total of 1,524 guns had been surrendered and a further 5,791 entered on a firearms certificate.

Graves

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to allow the re-use and relocating of graves; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: The current public consultation exercise "Burial law and policy in the 21st Century: the need for a sensitive and sustainable approach" seeks views on the existing arrangements for providing cemeteries and the possibility of re-using old ones. The results of this exercise, which is part of the on-going review of burial law and ends on 13 July 2004, will help to inform the Government's decision on whether to allow the re-use of graves in future. The relocation of graves is already permissible with the proper authority.

Immigration Appeals

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of legal costs for the future expected hearings relating to (a) detention under the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 and (b) deprivation of nationality under the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002, in respect of Treasury Solicitor and Counsel fees; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: Legal costs will depend on how many people are detained/deprived in the future, and to what level they appeal. As none of the current cases so far has reached its conclusion and we do not know about future numbers, it is not possible to make any realistic estimate of future expenditure.

Iraq

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers Her Majesty's Inspector has to report on prison facilities in Iraq.

Paul Goggins: Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons has no powers to report on prison facilities in Iraq.

National Criminal Intelligence Service

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) permanent and (b) seconded staff were employed at the National Criminal Intelligence Service in each of the last five years.

Caroline Flint: Records for the numbers of staff employed by the National Criminal Intelligence Service show the following:
	
		
			  Directly employed staff Seconded staff Attached staff Total 
		
		
			 1999(31) 310 233 52 595 
			 2000(31) 316 227 49 592 
			 2001(31) 419 257 50 726 
			 2002(31) 470 293 37 800 
			 2003(32) 745 254 45 1,044 
		
	
	(31) Based on April data.
	(32) Based on November data.

National Minorities Convention

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what (a) representations his Department has received and (b) meetings his Department has had with representatives of (i) national minorities, (ii) ethnic groups and (iii) others in respect of his Department's assessment of the Government's compliance with the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 24 May 2004
	The information is as follows:
	(a) The Government have received written representations on the Government's 2nd compliance report under the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities from the following organisations and members of Parliament:
	UK Race and European Network (UKREN);
	National Travellers Action Group;
	Cornish National Minority Steering Group;
	Cornwall 2000;
	Minority Rights Group;
	Jean Corston MP (as Chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights); and
	Lord Lester
	(b) Home Office officials have had one meeting with non-governmental organisations in connection with the 2nd compliance report. That meeting took place on 20 April 2004 with representative of the Cornish National Minority Steering Group, Cornwall 2000 and the Federal Union of European Nationalities.

National Minorities Convention

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to complete his Department's contribution to the Government's compliance report to the Council of Europe under the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Home Office is co-ordinating the Government's second compliance report under the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and we hope to complete a first draft later in the summer. We will circulate the draft widely to non-governmental organisations for comment and aim to submit the final version to the Council of Europe in the autumn.

On-the-spot Fines

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many on-the-spot fines have been issued in each local authority in the last five years, broken down by region and listed in descending order.

Alun Michael: I have been asked to reply.
	Within Defra's area of responsibility local authorities in England are able to issue fixed penalty notices for offences related to litter, dog fouling and, since 31 March, graffiti and fly-posting. They can also issue fixed penalty notices for night time noise offences but, until 31 March, only if they elected to do so. Only information for each is available in the form requested and the following information shows the litter fixed penalty notices issued in each local authority in the last five years. Local authorities that are not named did not issue any fixed penalty notices for litter during these periods.
	
		1998–99
		
			 Local authority Number of fines issued 
		
		
			 East Midlands 0 
			 East of England  
			 Colchester BC 69 
			 Basildon DC 13 
			 St. Albans CC 2 
			   
			 London  
			 Westminster CC 3,486 
			 LB Hackney 520 
			 LB Wandsworth 242 
			 LB Greenwich 120 
			 LB Ealing 100 
			 RB of Kensington and Chelsea 86 
			 LB Tower Hamlets 43 
			 LB Richmond upon Thames 1 
			   
			 North East  
			 Darlington BC 1 
			   
			 North West  
			 Wycombe DC 11 
			 Restormel BC 9 
			 Warrington BC 1 
			   
			 South East  
			 Swale BC 4 
			 Brighton and Hove BC 1 
			 Canterbury CC 1 
			 Portsmouth CC 1 
			   
			 South West  
			 S Somerset DC 9 
			 Mid Devon DC 2 
			   
			 West Midlands 0 
			   
			 Yorkshire and Humber  
			 Bradford CC 54 
			 Ribble Valley BC 1 
		
	
	
		1999–2000
		
			 Local authority Number of fines issued 
		
		
			 East Midlands 0 
			 East of England  
			 Colchester BC 47 
			 Basildon DC 13 
			 Broxbourne BC 4 
			 St Albans CC 4 
			 Braintree DC 2 
			   
			 London  
			 Westminster CC 2,076 
			 LB Ealing 310 
			 LB Tower Hamlets 206 
			 RB of Kensington and Chelsea 126 
			 LB Wandsworth 46 
			 North East  
			 Middlesbrough CC 44 
			 Darlington BC 14 
			   
			 North West  
			 Hyndburn BC 4 
			 Warrington BC 2 
			   
			 South East  
			 Canterbury CC 28 
			 Swale BC 6 
			 Crawley BC 2 
			 Portsmouth CC 1 
			   
			 South West  
			 S Somerset DC 3 
			 E Devon DC 2 
			   
			 West Midlands 0 
			   
			 Yorkshire and Humber  
			 Bradford MDC 30 
		
	
	
		2000–01
		
			 Local authority Number of fines issued 
		
		
			 East Midlands  
			 S Northamptonshire DC 1 
			   
			 East of England  
			 Colchester BC 35 
			 Braintree DC 16 
			 Basildon DC 15 
			 Broxbourne BC 9 
			 St Albans CC 6 
			 Maldon DC 2 
			   
			 London  
			 LB Ealing 489 
			 RB of Kensington and Chelsea 466 
			 LB Lambeth 321 
			 LB Tower Hamlets 250 
			 LB Lewisham 149 
			 LB Redbridge 121 
			 LB Wandsworth 64 
			 LB Hammersmith and Fulham 13 
			 LB Richmond upon Thames 4 
			   
			 North East  
			 Middlesbrough CC 46 
			 Darlington BC 29 
			 S Tyneside DC 12 
			   
			 North West  
			 Hyndburn BC 11 
			 Ribble Valley BC 1 
			   
			 South East  
			 Southampton CC 63 
			 New Forest DC 12 
			 Maidstone BC 2 
			 Swale BC 2 
			 Canterbury CC 1 
			   
			 South West  
			 Christchurch BC 18 
			 Bournemouth BC 6 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 1 
			 Exeter CC 1 
			   
			 West Midlands  
			 Birmingham CC 59 
			 Dudley DC 15 
			 Yorkshire and Humber  
			 Bradford MDC 7 
		
	
	
		2001–02
		
			 Local authority Number of fines issued 
		
		
			 East Midlands  
			 Gedling DC 13 
			   
			 East of England  
			 Colchester BC 54 
			 Broxbourne BC 30 
			 Braintree DC 11 
			 Tendring DC 3 
			 Basildon DC 2 
			 Milton Keynes BC 2 
			 St. Albans CC 2 
			   
			 London  
			 Westminster CC (33)7.862 
			 RB of Kensington and Chelsea 643 
			 LB Lewisham 513 
			 LB Ealing 504 
			 LB Lambeth 309 
			 LB Wandsworth 197 
			 LB Hammersmith and Fulham 195 
			 LB Greenwich 159 
			 LB Barking and Dagenham 84 
			 LB Redbridge 14 
			 LB Enfield 8 
			   
			 North East  
			 Newcastle upon Tyne CC 117 
			 Middlesbrough CC 99 
			 Stockton-on-Tees DC 46 
			 Sedgefield DC 26 
			 Darlington BC 14 
			 N Tyneside BC 1 
			   
			 North West  
			 Oldham BC 23 
			 Hyndburn BC 11 
			 Burnley BC 1 
			   
			 South East  
			 Southampton CC 68 
			 Brighton and Hove BC 52 
			 Wycombe DC 17 
			 Thanet DC 8 
			 Maidstone BC 6 
			 Portsmouth CC 1 
			   
			 South West  
			 E Devon DC 1 
			 Exeter CC 1 
			   
			 West Midlands  
			 Birmingham CC 339 
			 Dudley DC 29 
			 Sandwell BC 24 
			 Rugby BC 5 
			 Wolverhampton CC 1 
			   
			 Yorkshire and Humber  
			 Bradford MDC 60 
			 Rotherham DC 60 
		
	
	(33) Westminster figures for 2001–02 includes figures for 2000–01, which were not returned separately.
	
		2002–03
		
			 Local authority Number of fines issued 
		
		
			 East Midlands  
			 Blaby DC 3 
			 S Kesteven DC 1 
			   
			 East of England  
			 Luton BC 42 
			 Broxbourne BC 36 
			 Colchester BC 33 
			 Tendring DC 32 
			 St. Albans CC 28 
			 Stevenage BC 10 
			 Braintree DC 7 
			 Chelmsford BC 5 
			 Basildon DC 4 
			 St. Edmundsbury BC 4 
			 Maldon DC 3 
			 Forest Heath DC 2 
			   
			 London  
			 Westminster CC 8,547 
			 RB of Kensington and Chelsea 539 
			 LB Lewisham 272 
			 LB Southwark 258 
			 LB Haringey 152 
			 LB Newham 124 
			 LB Barking and Dagenham 75 
			 LB Waltham Forest 68 
			 LB Tower Hamlets 65 
			 LB Enfield 42 
			 LB Greenwich 40 
			 LB Wandsworth 37 
			 LB Islington 14 
			 LB Redbridge 10 
			 LB Richmond upon Thames 5 
			   
			 North East  
			 Newcastle upon Tyne CC 239 
			 Stockton-on-Tees DC 108 
			 Redcar and Cleveland DC 60 
			 Darlington BC 14 
			 N Tyneside BC 3 
			   
			 North West  
			 Wigan BC 294 
			 Carlisle CC 108 
			 Ribble Valley BC 55 
			 Burnley BC 41 
			 Oldham BC 22 
			 Rossendale BC 17 
			 Hyndburn BC 16 
			 Allerdale BC 2 
			 Manchester CC 2 
			 Chorley BC 1 
			 Warrington BC 1 
			   
			 South East  
			 Southampton CC 95 
			 Milton Keynes BC 64 
			 Wycombe DC 27 
			 Maidstone BC 9 
			 Canterbury CC 4 
			 Portsmouth CC 1 
			 Thanet DC 1 
			   
			 South West  
			 N Cornwall DC 9 
			 Exeter CC 6 
			 Restormel BC 2 
			 E Devon DC 1 
			 Sedgemoor DC 1 
			   
			 West Midlands  
			 Birmingham CC 740 
			 Sandwell BC 102 
			 Dudley DC 19 
			 Wolverhampton CC 3 
			 Coventry CC 1 
			 Yorkshire and Humber  
			 Rotherham DC 208 
			 Sheffield CC 76 
			 Barnsley MBC 10

Parole

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many life sentence prisoners were recalled to custody during each of the last 48 months; and what the reasons for recall were.

Paul Goggins: The numbers of life sentence prisoners recalled to custody from 1 April 2000 onwards are shown in the table. However, the reasons for these licence revocations are only recorded from October 2002.
	Life licences can be revoked for a specific reason or a combination of reasons. In broad terms, a licensee's recall to custody is likely to occur in two main areas. Firstly, where specific behaviour, criminal or otherwise, is giving rise to concerns over the potential risk of harm to the public. Secondly, where probation staff are unable safely to manage the level of risk as a result of the licensee's non-compliance with licence conditions. Other issues will frequently combine with these main factors, most notably concerns relating to alcohol and drug misuse.
	Of the 70 lifers recalled from 1 October 2002 to 31 March 2004, the reasons for recall were listed as:
	actual or potential risk of harm to others (17 cases);
	breach of licence conditions (20 cases);
	either or both of the above factors, linked to other concerns over behaviour (33 cases).
	
		Life sentence prisoner recalls April 2000 to March 2004
		
			 Year/month Number of recalls 
		
		
			 2000  
			 April 2 
			 May 1 
			 June 2 
			 July 2 
			 August 4 
			 September 5 
			 October 2 
			 November 3 
			 December 2 
			   
			 2001  
			 January 6 
			 February 1 
			 March 5 
			 April 0 
			 May 1 
			 June 2 
			 July 5 
			 August 4 
			 September 2 
			 October 3 
			 November 1 
			 December 3 
			   
			 2002  
			 January 1 
			 February 2 
			 March 2 
			 April 1 
			 May 2 
			 June 3 
			 July 2 
			 August 3 
			 September 2 
			 October 3 
			 November 3 
			 December 2 
			   
			 2003  
			 January 2 
			 February 3 
			 March 3 
			 April 4 
			 May 4 
			 June 2 
			 July 4 
			 August 3 
			 September 2 
			 October 10 
			 November 6 
			 December 5 
			   
			 2004  
			 January 6 
			 February 3 
			 March 5

Police Funding

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much police expenditure was met by (a) council tax precepts and (b) Home Office grants, (i) as a percentage of local police force expenditure and (ii) in cash terms, broken down by police force, in each year since 1997–98.

Hazel Blears: I have placed the information in the Library.

Police Funding

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much of the cost of policing in Merseyside was paid for by (a) central government and (b) local taxes in each of the last eight years.

Hazel Blears: The information is set out in the table.
	
		£ million
		
			  Total gross revenue expenditure Government funding and specific grants(34) Other(35) Council tax 
		
		
			 1996–97 225.6 202.9 -0.6 23.3 
			 1997–98 230.2 206.1 -3.2 27.4 
			 1998–99 246.8 213.7 3.8 29.3 
			 1999–2000 254.6 216.1 6.8 31.7 
			 2000–01 269.0 226.3 9.7 33.0 
			 2001–02 285.2 235.9 13.5 35.8 
			 2002–03 293.5 244.4 9.6 39.5 
			 2003–04 309.9 260.0 7.6 42.3 
		
	
	(34) Includes principal Home Office police grant, ODPM Revenue Support grant and National Non Domestic Rates, Special grant, Revenue for Airwave, Crime Fighting Fund, Rural Policing grant, Loan charges grant, Street Crime Initiative grant and other specific grants.
	(35) Includes all other force income apart from specific grants from Government and movements in reserves.
	Source:
	Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy Police Statistics (Actuals 1997–98 to 2002–03 and Estimates 2003–04).

Police Funding

Albert Owen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much of the cost of policing in North Wales was paid for from (a) central Government funds, (b) local council tax and (c) other sources in each year since 1996–97.

Hazel Blears: The information is set out in the table.
	
		£ million
		
			  Council tax Government funding and specific grants(36) Other(37) Total gross revenue expenditure 
		
		
			 1996–97 10.7 58.7 2.0 71.4 
			 1997–98 11.2 61.1 0.4 72.7 
			 1998–99 13.6 61.6 2.0 77.2 
			 1999–2000 15.7 64.0 1.7 81.4 
			 2000–01 18.8 67.3 3.0 89.1 
			 2001–02 20.0 74.8 3.6 98.4 
			 2002–03 23.6 78.4 3.8 105.8 
			 2003–04 31.3 78.2 3.3 112.8 
		
	
	(36) Includes Principal Home Office Police grant, Revenue Support Grant and National Non Domestic Rates (police general grants), Special Grant, Crime Fighting Fund, Rural Policing Grant, Loan Charge Grant and other specific grants.
	Under grant protection arrangements in England, police authorities have been guaranteed a minimum increase a 'floor' in general grant funding each year since 2002–03. Grant 'floors' are not applied by the Welsh Assembly, but to ensure North Wales received a grant increase equivalent to the English minimum of 2.3 per cent. in 2002–03, the Home Secretary made a special payment to North Wales Police Authority of £362,000. North Wales was also supported by this arrangement in 2004–05 (£1.5 million). Its increase in general grants in 2003–04 was 4.5 per cent. well above the funding floor of 3.0 per cent.
	(37) Includes all other force income apart from specific grants from Government, and movement in reserves.
	Source:
	Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy Police Statistics (Actuals 1996–97 to 2002–03 and Estimates 2003–04), provided by the Police Authority.

Police Numbers (Greater London)

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers there were in each police force in Greater London in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: The number of police officers in the City of London and the Metropolitan Police Service are given in the table:
	
		Police officer strength full-time equivalent
		
			 Strength as at: City of London Metropolitan police Total 
		
		
			 31 March 1997 859 26,677 27,536 
			 31 March 1998 825 26,094 26,919 
			 31 March 1999 778 26,073 26,851 
			 31 March 2000 732 25,485 26,217 
			 31 March 2001 703 24,878 25,581 
			 31 March 2002 764 26,223 26,987 
			 31 March 2003(38) 808 27,984 28,792 
			 31 December 20031,2 842 29,441 30,283 
		
	
	(38) Comparable with previous data—excludes staff on career breaks and maternity/paternity leave.
	(39) The latest available figures for the end of the year were issued with Home Office Press Release 095/2004 on 2 March 2004.

Police Numbers (Greater London)

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) Ministry of Defence police officers, (b) British Transport police officers, (c) National Crime Squad officers and (d) police force officers there were in Greater London in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: The Home Office does not collect numbers of Ministry of Defence police officers. British Transport police officer numbers were collected for the first time on 31 March 2003. The National Crime Squad was established with effect from 1 April 1998 so data were collected only from 31 March 1999.
	Available data are given in the table:
	
		
			 Police strength (FTE) as at: British Transport Police National Crime Squad Metropolitan Police and City of London 
		
		
			 31 March 1997 — — 27,536 
			 31 March 1998 — — 26,919 
			 31 March 1999 — 1,333 26,851 
			 31 March 2000 — 1,389 26,217 
			 31 March 2001 — 1,308 25,581 
			 31 March 2002 — 1,176 26,987 
			 31 March 2003 2,176 1,175 28,792 
			 30 September 2003 1,939 1,179 29,765

Prison Staff (Retirement)

Colin Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the Prison Officers' Association regarding the retirement age of prison staff.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 14 May 2004
	Retirement ages are currently under general review following the publication of the Green Paper "Simplicity, security and choice: Working and saving for retirement", published in December 2002. The Green Paper considers retirement ages for public servants, including specific groups. It refers to the different considerations applying to:
	" . . . the armed forces, fire service and police where the need for a recognised physical capacity justifies the award of normal pension at a lower age . . . ".
	The Prison Officers' Association (POA) has made representations to be included as an additional special case to the departments with lead responsibility for pensions reforms—the Treasury, Inland Revenue and the Department for Work and Pensions. The POA has also made their views known to the Prison Service on a number of occasions and officials have passed the POA views to the lead Departments.

Prison Service Plus

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what applications have been made to the European Social Fund in relation to resettlement activities in the Prison Service; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: From the information available centrally about European Social Fund (ESF) applications, the Prison Service has recently submitted an ESF application to extend Prison Service Plus to a £59 million programme operating until 31 December 2006 in at least 40 establishments (45 per cent. funded by ESF). Prison Service Plus is the largest ESF-funded resettlement programme in the Prison Service. It is currently a £29 million programme operating in 28 establishments until 31 August 2004 (45 per cent. funded by ESF) and is geared to delivering improved employment and accommodation outcomes for released prisoners.

Prisons (Racial Conflict)

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what initiatives his Department has put in place to deal with racial conflict in the prison system.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 9 June 2004
	The Prison Service is undertaking a number of initiatives to address racism. In December 2003 a full scale and comprehensive joint action plan to combat all aspects of racism was agreed between the Prison Service and the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE). The plan, entitled "Implementing Race Equality in Prisons—A Shared Agenda for Change", was produced in partnership with the CRE. It brings together work currently being undertaken to ensure compliance with the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 through the Prison Service Race Equality Scheme and incorporates lessons learned from the CRE Formal Investigation into race relations.

Publicly Funded Programmes (Crosby)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much public funding has been spent in Crosby from the (a) Criminal Justice Interventions Programme, (b) Adult Drug Treatment Programme, (c) Building Safer Communities Programme, (d) Basic Command Unit Fund, (e) Wardens Scheme and (f) Regional Home Office Directors Fund.

Hazel Blears: A breakdown of financial allocation to individual constituencies is not available. Funding is allocated at local authority level. The following amounts of funding have been allocated in Sefton :
	(a) Criminal Justice Interventions Programme (CJIP) to Sefton Drug Action Team (DAT):
	2003–04—£35,000
	2004–05—£222,235
	(b) Adult Drug Treatment Programme to Sefton DAT:
	2002–03—£971,000
	2003–04—£1,261,712
	2004–05—£1,416,095
	In order to ensure consistency, the figures supplied are based on funding streams associated with the National Drug Strategy and are readily verifiable. These funding streams are specifically targeted at tackling the harm caused to individuals, families and communities by the misuse of drugs. Other mainstream funding is made available at a local level. This varies both in amount and origin and as a result it is not possible to provide robust financial information.
	(c) Building Safer Communities Fund (BSC) to Sefton Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP).
	2003–04—£288,024
	2004/05—£295,225 + £25,000 for anti-social behaviour co-ordinator costs
	(d) Basic Command Unit (BCU) Fund to Sefton BCU.
	2003–04—£196,745
	2004–05—£196,745
	(e) Neighbourhood Wardens Scheme—there are no neighbourhood wardens in Sefton.
	(f) A broad, pan-Merseyside investment of £110,000 in 2003–04 and £45,000 in 2004–05 has been made available from the Home Office Regional Directors' allocation to the Multi-Agency Group/Joint Action Group strategic and tactical co-ordination arrangements. No funding has been given direct to Crosby or Sefton but those areas may benefit from the overall allocation.

Antisocial Behaviour

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the recordable offences which he categorises as antisocial behaviour.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 9 June 2004
	All offences under provisions which carry the possibility of a custodial sentence are recordable. These are specified in the schedule for the National Police Records Regulations 2000.
	The decision as to what constitutes anti-social behaviour is for local communities and those public bodies that serve them. It is for local bodies to look carefully at recorded crime statistics, recordable offences, British Crime Statistics, plus reports from local people in order to understand anti-social behaviour locally.

Section 44 Funding

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the total allocation of section 44 funding in each year since 1997.

Fiona Mactaggart: I have asked the Chair of the Commission for Racial Equality if he will write to my hon. Friend with this information in due course.

Security Firm Contracts

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what contracts his Department has with the security firm Reliance; whether these are being reviewed; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: holding answer 25 May 2004
	Her Majesty's Prison Service for England and Wales currently contracts with Reliance Security Task Management Ltd. for the delivery of prisoner escort and custody services in the South West of England and South Wales.
	A Better Quality Services Review in 2002 recommended that court escort and custody services should remain contracted out but that there should be a re-competition of the current contracts.
	The re-competition has been undertaken and contracts are in the process of being awarded and a further contract will be awarded to Reliance.

Sexual Offences

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of (a) drug rape and (b) sexual abuse where drugs had been administered were reported in England in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: It is not possible from the information collected centrally on recorded crime to determine the number of offences where drugs had been administered.

Speed Cameras (Errors)

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fines consequent on speed camera evidence have been rescinded for being erroneous in each year since 1998.

Caroline Flint: This information is not collected centrally.

Stun Guns

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many stun guns have been seized by the police in 2004.

Caroline Flint: The requested information is not collected centrally.

Surrey Police

Virginia Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) police officers and (b) police support staff there have been in Surrey in each year since 1996.

Hazel Blears: The information requested is given in the table:
	
		Full-time equivalents
		
			 Surrey Police strength Police staff(40) 
		
		
			 31 March 1996 1,644 792 
			 31 March 1997 1,620 757 
			 31 March 1998 1,608 768 
			 31 March 1999 1,662 754 
			 31 March 2000 1,785 780 
			 31 March 2001(41) 2,066 922 
			 31 March 2002 1,992 1,063 
			 31 March 2003(42) 1,906 (43)1,258 
			 31 December 2003(42) 1,922 n/a 
		
	
	(40) Includes traffic wardens.
	(41) The figures for Surrey were affected by the boundary changes in April 2000.
	(42) Comparable strength (excludes staff on career breaks and maternity/paternity leave).
	(43) Includes 21 Community Support Officers.

Women Prisoners

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women over the age of 70 years have been remanded to HMP Holloway in the last year; for how long in each case; and for what offences.

Paul Goggins: Two women over the age of 70 have been remanded to HMP Holloway in the last year, both for the offence of breaching a restraining order. The women spent one night and five nights in custody respectively.

Women Prisoners

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many suicide attempts have been made by inmates of Holloway Prison in the last year.

Paul Goggins: In the calendar year 2003, there were 851 recorded acts of self-harm involving prisoners at HMP Holloway.
	Suicidal intent is not easy to establish. The reasons why people self-injure are highly complex, and it is difficult to distinguish between acts of self-harm that were attempts at ending life, and those that occurred for other reasons. It is not possible, therefore, for the Prison Service to determine from the general figures recording incidents of self-harm those acts that could be described as attempts at suicide. The figure above therefore includes all acts of self-harm, however serious.
	Women prisoners are to benefit from a specifically targeted and separate suicide prevention and self-harm management strategy being developed for them. This builds upon a number of interventions including: individual crisis counselling for women prisoners who self-harm; the continued development and evaluation of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, which is currently being trialled at Durham, Bullwood Hall and Holloway prisons; investment and planning to ensure progress on the detoxification strategy in women's prisons; and the introduction of a new training pack for all staff working with women in custody, which includes a module on the health and well-being of women prisoners. £1 million from the Department of Health has been allocated to women's prisons to be spent on the recruitment of psychiatric nurses.

Women Prisoners

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many female inmates have committed suicide in England and Wales (a) broken down by prison and (b) in total in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many female suicides in prisons were (a) remand prisoners, (b) had a substance abuse problem prior to entering jail and (c) had been moved from another prison within the previous three months in each of the past three years;
	(3)  how many suicides there were in each women's prison in each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: The following table shows the number of self-inflicted deaths involving women prisoners in each year since 1997, the establishments in which the deaths occurred, the number of women who were on remand when they died, and the number of women who had moved from another prison in the three months before their deaths.
	
		Number of self-inflicted deaths per calendar year
		
			 Establishment 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004(44) 
		
		
			 Askham Grange — — — — — — — — 
			 Brockhill — 1 1 2 1 — 1 1 
			 Buckley Hall — — — — — — — 1 
			 Bullwood Hall 1 — — — 1 — 1 — 
			 Cookham Wood — — — — — — — — 
			 Downview — — — — — — 1 — 
			 Drake Hall — — — — — — — — 
			 Durham — — — — — 2 3 1 
			 East Sutton Park — — — — — — — — 
			 Eastwood Park — — — 3 1 1 1 — 
			 Edmunds Hill — — — — — — — 2 
			 Foston Hall — — — — — — — — 
			 Highpoint — — — — — 1 — — 
			 Holloway — 1 2 1 1 1 — 2 
			 Low Newton 1 — — — — — — — 
			 Morton Hall — — — — — — — — 
			 New Hall — 1 1 1 — 2 3 1 
			 Risley 1 — — — — — — — 
			 Send — — — — — — — 1 
			 Styal — — — 1 1 2 4 — 
			 Winchester — — — — — — — — 
			 PECS(45) Area 3 — — — — 1 — — — 
			 PECS Area 6 — — 1 — — — — — 
			 Annual Total 3 3 5 8 6 9 14 9 
			 Remand Total(46) — 1 3 3 4 5  1 
			 Moved from another prison in previous three months(47) — 1 2 — — 1 4 3 
		
	
	(44) To 1 June.
	(45) Prison Escort and Custody Services. Deaths in PECS custody include those that occur in courts, or during transfer from police custody to court or prison, to or from court, or between prisons.
	(46) Annual total includes all remand, convicted/ unsentenced, sentenced and judgment respited categories. The remand total is for those who died while on remand only.
	(47) Three months has been defined as 92 days. The definition does not rule out prisoners who may have spent time in their final prison on an earlier occasion.
	It is not possible to determine how many of the women who died had a substance misuse issue prior to entering prison, as such data are not collated centrally.
	The number of self-inflicted deaths among women prisoners is recognised as a very serious concern by the Prison Service and Ministers. Women prisoners are to benefit from a specifically targeted and separate suicide prevention and self-harm management strategy being developed for them. This builds upon a number of interventions including: individual crisis counselling for women prisoners who self-harm; the continued development and evaluation of dialectical behaviour therapy, which is currently being trialled at Durham, Bullwood Hall and Holloway prisons; investment and planning to ensure progress on the detoxification strategy in women's prisons; and the introduction of a new training pack for all staff working with women in custody, which includes a module on the health and well-being of women prisoners. £1 million from the Department of Health has been allocated to women's prisons to be spent on the recruitment of psychiatric nurses.

Women Prisoners

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisons there were housing women prisoners in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: The number of prisons in England and Wales with female units at any time during the year, in each year since 1997, is given in the table.
	
		Prisons with female units England and Wales
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1997 16 
			 1998 17 
			 1999 17 
			 2000 16 
			 2001 18 
			 2002 19 
			 2003 19

Women Prisoners

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effect of transferring female prisoners between jails; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the impact on the mental health of women prisoners of the distance of the prison from their families.

Paul Goggins: There is no specific research on the effects of transferring women between prisons nor on the mental health effects of being located far from home. But we do know from other data that being close to family and friends is particularly important for female prisoners and moving between prisons is bound to be disruptive to any prisoner.
	The Prison Service has recently started research with Oxford University Public Health Department on the effects of imprisonment on women's health. The effects of women's locations in relation to their families and the effects of transfers between prisons are expected to be examined as part of that work. It is hoped that the preliminary results will be available by the end of 2005.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Cattle Diseases

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average length of time was that cattle remained on farms before being collected following a positive test for (a) brucellosis and (b) tuberculosis in 2003.

Ian Pearson: The information is as follows:
	(a) In 2003, the average length of time that elapsed between a positive brucellosis test and slaughter of the reactor animal was 14 working days.
	(b) In 2003, the average length of time that elapsed between a positive tuberculosis test and slaughter of the reactor animal was 21 working days.

GCSEs

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average point score of GCSE pupils in Northern Ireland was in each of the past five years.

Barry Gardiner: The average point scores for GCSE pupils in Northern Ireland over the last five years are as follows:
	
		
			 Academic year Average point score 
		
		
			 1997–98 35.1 
			 1998–99 36.3 
			 1999–2000 36.9 
			 2000–01 36.9 
			 2001–02 37.7 
			 2002–03 37.9

GCSEs

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether vocational GCSE grades are included when calculating the average point scores of pupils in Northern Ireland.

Barry Gardiner: Vocational GCSE's were introduced in September 2002. The first awards are expected at the end of the 2003–04 academic year. From this point they will be included in the calculation of average point scores of pupils in Northern Ireland.

Higher Education

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of young entrants to higher education in Northern Ireland were from social classes (a) iii, (b) iv and (c) v since 1995–96.

Barry Gardiner: The Department for Employment and Learning does not hold information on social class of all students at Northern Ireland higher education institutions. However, data are available for Northern Ireland domiciled entrants to higher education in Northern Ireland who applied using the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
	Information for NI domiciled accepted applicants to degree courses at NIHE institutions through UCAS by social class from 1995–96 to 2001–02 is as follows.
	
		Percentage
		
			  Social class 
			  I Professional II Intermediate III Skilled Non-manual IIIM Manual Skilled IV Partly Skilled V Unskilled 
		
		
			 1995–96 8 41 15 24 8 4 
			 1996–97 8 40 16 25 8 3 
			 1997–98 8 42 17 22 8 3 
			 1998–99 7 42 17 24 8 3 
			 1999–2000 8 41 17 23 8 3 
			 2000–01 9 40 18 23 8 3 
			 2001–02 8 41 18 23 8 3 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Individual figures have been rounded which means that the sum of percentages in each row may not total 100.
	2. The last year for which data on social class is available is 2001–02. From 2002–03, UCAS provide a Socio-Economic Classification (SEC) of students which is not directly comparable with the social class information.
	Source:
	UCAS

Higher Education

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what Government spending on student support in Northern Ireland has been as a proportion of gross domestic product in the last 10 years.

Barry Gardiner: Student support information on the basis of Resource Allocation Budgets in Northern Ireland is only available in the Department for Employment and Learning from the 2001–02 financial year. Estimates of Gross Value Added (GVA), previously known as gross domestic product, are not yet available for Northern Ireland beyond 2001–02. Currently, therefore, the only year for which the information can be calculated is 2001–02. For that year, Government spending on student support was £59,263,000 or 0.29 per cent. of GVA.

Hotels

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the hotel occupancy rates were in Northern Ireland in each (a) year and (b) month in the last 20 years.

Barry Gardiner: The table provided by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board gives the breakdown of annual and monthly percentage room and bedspace occupancy levels for Northern Ireland.
	
		Hotel occupancy(48)
		
			 Percentage rate 
			  January February March April May June 
		
		
			 2004   
			 Room 46 56 56 — — — 
			 Bedspace 28 37 35 — — — 
			 2003   
			 Room 40 51 52 55 60 66 
			 Bedspace 24 32 32 36 39 41 
			 2002   
			 Room 41 53 51 53 62 63 
			 Bedspace 23 31 32 34 38 41 
			 2001   
			 Room 41 50 49 49 58 66 
			 Bedspace 22 29 29 31 35 40 
			 2000   
			 Room 39 46 50 58 62 63 
			 Bedspace 22 28 29 38 38 39 
			 1999   
			 Room 40 47 47 51 58 63 
			 Bedspace 23 28 30 33 36 41 
			 1998   
			 Room 43 53 50 53 59 64 
			 Bedspace 24 31 28 32 34 39 
			 1997   
			 Room 39 51 51 52 53 59 
			 Bedspace 22 31 33 32 34 37 
			 1996   
			 Room 44 55 56 58 66 67 
			 Bedspace 25 32 34 36 42 44 
			 1995   
			 Room 46 55 62 60 67 72 
			 Bedspace 27 33 39 42 44 48 
			 1994   
			 Room 36 48 50 49 54 57 
			 Bedspace 21 27 28 31 34 35 
			 1993   
			 Room 37 51 49 48 53 62 
			 Bedspace 23 31 31 32 37 40 
			 1992   
			 Room 34 46 46 46 51 54 
			 Bedspace 21 29 28 32 35 36 
			 1991   
			 Room 37 42 44 48 56 57 
			 Bedspace 22 27 30 32 38 37 
			 1990   
			 Room 33 45 53 49 59 62 
			 Bedspace 21 28 34 33 40 40 
			 1989   
			 Room 37 47 49 53 56 55 
			 Bedspace 23 31 32 34 36 37 
			 1988   
			 Room 35 44 46 46 45 52 
			 Bedspace 22 26 29 31 32 33 
			 1987   
			 Room 33 49 46 49 51 52 
			 Bedspace 21 30 29 33 35 35 
			 1986   
			 Room 31 42 41 42 47 50 
			 Bedspace 19 25 26 27 31 33 
			 1985   
			 Room 37 42 45 49 51 51 
			 Bedspace 24 27 27 34 36 35 
			 1984   
			 Room 30 41 42 44 49 51 
			 Bedspace 19 27 28 31 35 35 
			 1983   
			 Room 29 34 42 41 42 45 
			 Bedspace 19 21 28 29 30 32 
			 1982   
			 Room 25 30 35 32 38 37 
			 Bedspace 16 19 22 22 26 25 
			 1981   
			 Room 30 37 38 33 34 34 
			 Bedspace 19 23 24 23 22 22 
			 1980   
			 Room 32 33 34 35 36 41 
			 Bedspace 19 21 23 23 24 27 
		
	
	
		
			  July August September October November December Year average 
		
		
			 2004
			 Room — — — — — — — 
			 Bedspace — — — — — — — 
			 2003
			 Room 56 66 68 61 56 46 56 
			 Bedspace 40 49 43 39 34 30 37 
			 2002
			 Room 54 60 61 56 50 39 53 
			 Bedspace 38 42 38 35 31 25 34 
			 2001
			 Room 51 62 62 55 53 41 53 
			 Bedspace 35 44 38 34 31 27 33 
			 2000
			 Room 52 59 62 55 50 43 53 
			 Bedspace 36 40 38 33 28 26 33 
			 1999
			 Room 54 59 66 59 54 41 53 
			 Bedspace 37 41 41 38 31 25 34 
			 1998
			 Room 51 60 61 53 51 38 53 
			 Bedspace 34 41 36 33 29 24 32 
			 1997
			 Room 45 59 66 62 56 45 53 
			 Bedspace 30 41 41 37 32 27 33 
			 1996
			 Room 52 60 62 56 57 41 56 
			 Bedspace 36 43 39 34 33 26 35 
			 1995
			 Room 61 70 75 65 65 45 62 
			 Bedspace 45 53 49 41 38 28 41 
			 1994
			 Room 44 54 60 55 55 44 51 
			 Bedspace 31 38 38 33 33 28 31 
			 1993
			 Room 47 52 55 50 43 32 48 
			 Bedspace 35 39 37 32 25 21 32 
			 1992
			 Room 49 56 56 49 43 34 47 
			 Bedspace 36 43 37 33 28 22 32 
			 1991
			 Room 55 59 59 50 47 33 49 
			 Bedspace 40 46 40 33 30 22 33 
			 1990
			 Room 50 58 62 53 46 34 50 
			 Bedspace 37 43 42 35 29 23 34 
			 1989
			 Room 50 56 59 51 53 34 50 
			 Bedspace 36 40 41 35 33 23 33 
			 1988
			 Room 47 48 53 46 47 32 45 
			 Bedspace 35 35 33 30 28 23 30 
			 1987
			 Room 46 54 58 53 45 32 47 
			 Bedspace 35 39 39 34 28 21 32 
			 1986
			 Room 44 53 51 48 41 30 43 
			 Bedspace 32 40 34 30 25 20 29 
			 1985
			 Room 51 54 48 50 42 28 46 
			 Bedspace 37 41 37 38 28 19 32 
			 1984
			 Room 44 54 52 49 43 34 44 
			 Bedspace 35 43 38 32 28 24 31 
			 1983
			 Room 41 47 44 40 40 31 40 
			 Bedspace 31 36 32 28 27 22 28 
			 1982
			 Room 33 40 40 39 32 28 34 
			 Bedspace 25 31 26 25 20 19 23 
			 1981
			 Room 33 31 36 38 31 26 33 
			 Bedspace 22 26 25 20 17 15 22 
			 1980
			 Room 36 40 43 35 34 25 35 
			 Bedspace 25 28 24 22 24 17 23 
		
	
	(48) A new survey methodology was introduced in 1997 therefore caution should be taken when comparing pre-1997 results with post-1997 results.

Hunting Bill

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with his colleagues in the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs about the extension of the Hunting Bill to Northern Ireland.

Ian Pearson: My right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Rural Affairs referred to the issue of the introduction of a Hunting Bill with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland during an informal conversation in late 2002. There have been no other discussions with the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Lyric Theatre, Belfast

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what financial assistance the Government is providing for the redevelopment of the Lyric Theatre in Belfast.

Angela Smith: No decision has yet been taken on whether the Government will provide financialassistance for the redevelopment of the Lyric Theatre. This will depend on the strength of the business case and the availability of funding to meet the capital costs. My Department is currently working with the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and The Lyric Theatre to develop a robust and up-to-date business case for support from public sector funds.

Music Teaching

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what risk assessment was carried out when deciding upon a maximum class size of 20 for music classes; by whom this risk assessment was carried out; and what evidence there is to support the limiting of class sizes to 20 pupils.

Barry Gardiner: The maximum class size of 20 for pupils in practical music classes was initially included in the Department's 2001 Circular on Class Sizes in Practical Subjects. More recently the Department reassessed the position by consulting with various educational specialists/organisations including the Department's Education and Training Inspectorate, representatives of heads of post-primary schools, school authorities and teacher unions.
	The professional view emerging from this consultation again confirmed that in general, health and safety hazards are such that adequate and safe supervision of pupils is not possible if more than 20 pupils are present in a class and involved in practical activities. This limit only applies to music classes involving the practical use of musical instruments. Also, the limit does not apply to choirs or orchestras, which are not classified as classes for the purposes of the Department's circular.
	Should issues arise for specific schools with regard to meeting the maximum class size requirement of 20 pupils for music, schools can seek advice from the Department on an appropriate way forward.

National Stadium

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the outcome was of the recent feasibility study into a National Stadium for Northern Ireland; whether a potential developer has been identified; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: I made an announcement on 24 May 2004 on the outcome of the recent business plan exercise in relation to the concept of a Northern Ireland multi-sports stadium. This was to the effect that such a venture could be operationally viable provided the sports of Soccer, Rugby and Gaelic Games were engaged. No potential developer has been identified as it would be premature to seek to do so prior to the completion of a proper examination of site options and a formal commitment from the three sports concerned to a multi-sports stadium. I have arranged for a copy of my statement on this matter to be sent to the hon. Lady. A copy will also be placed in the Library

Northern Ireland Assembly

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the sums paid to Assembly Members in (a) salaries and (b) office and staff allowances since the Northern Ireland Assembly elections in November 2003.

Paul Murphy: Following my determination under Section 47 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 in respect of Members' salaries and allowances effective from 5 December 2003, a total of £1.377 million has been paid in respect of Members' salaries with a farther £1.518 million paid in respect of office costs and other allowances, including Members' travel and subsistence. These figures include payments made up to 31 March 2004.

Northern Ireland Assembly

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the costs of the Northern Ireland Assembly since its suspension in October 2002.

Paul Murphy: Since its suspension on 14 October 2002, the cost associated with maintaining the Assembly up to 31 March 2004 is £36.6 million. This figure comprises costs relating to Members and parties of £15.4 million; property, accommodation and business services £7.5 million; and salaries of the Assembly Secretariat of £13.7 million. An element of this latter figure is attributable to Assembly staff who have been working on non Assembly projects within the wider public sector in Northern Ireland since June 2003.

Osteoporosis

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken by the Department for Health in Northern Ireland to tackle osteoporosis in females.

Ian Pearson: The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety is promoting action to prevent osteoporosis through a range of strategies and action plans designed to encourage regular exercise, a balanced diet, smoking prevention/cessation, home accident prevention and a responsible approach to alcohol consumption.
	In addition to lifestyle changes, there are a number of interventions, including medicines, used to prevent and treat osteoporosis. The choice of intervention is a matter for clinical judgment, having taken account of the evidence of effectiveness, clinical circumstances and the views expressed by the individual patient.

Policing Board for Northern Ireland

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the outcome was of the recruitment competitions for the post of Communications Director for the Policing Board for Northern Ireland commenced in (a) July 2003 and (b) January 2004.

Ian Pearson: I am advised by the Policing Board that there was no appointment made from the July 2003 Communications Director competition because none of the candidates interviewed were deemed suitable for the post. Therefore the post was re-advertised in January 2004. An offer has been made to a candidate and the Policing Board is awaiting a formal acceptance.

Policing Board for Northern Ireland

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  what account the Policing Board for Northern Ireland has taken of the Fair Employment Tribunal decision in the case of Willis v. Police Authority for Northern Ireland and others with regard to (a) the necessity of short-listing, (b) interview panels' notes to record assessments of candidates and decisions in relation to the short-listing and interviewing process and (c) the requirement to retain all application forms and related documents for 12 months;
	(2)  for what reason the panel of the Policing Board for Northern Ireland decided not to record their individual assessments and selections in short-listing applicants for the post of Communications Director in July 2003;
	(3)  for what reason the Policing Board for Northern Ireland decided not to retain documentation relating to the recruitment competition for the post of Communications Director commenced in July 2003.

Ian Pearson: I have been advised by the Policing Board that these are issues that have been raised in an application to the Fair Employment Tribunal in Northern Ireland by a candidate who was an unsuccessful applicant for the July 2003 competition for the post of Communications Director. As there are on-going proceedings, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further.

Public Bodies

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether a code of conduct has been published in respect of members of the Implementation Body on Language.

Angela Smith: The North South Ministerial Council at a meeting on 14 June 2002 approved the code of conduct for Board members of the North South Language Body. The code of conduct has not been published.

Salmon

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made regarding the buy-out of salmon nets in Northern Ireland's river estuaries.

Angela Smith: The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure has spent just over £1.1 million on the buy-out of 27 owners of commercial salmon nets with the potential to operate 49 commercial salmon nets in the Fisheries Conservancy Board (FCB) area. This represents an 87.5 per cent. reduction in the potential number of commercial nets available to fish in the FCB area. The 10-year average number of salmon taken by these nets was 9,800 out of a 10-year average declared commercial catch of between 10,000–11,000 salmon.

Smoking

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what (a) discussions he has had with and (b) advice he has received from the Chief Medical Officer in relation to the possible introduction of a ban on smoking in public places in Northern Ireland.

Ian Pearson: The Chief Medical Officer and I have had a number of wide-ranging discussions about tobacco control, including a possible ban on smoking in public places in Northern Ireland. We agreed that it was important for us to contribute to the wider UK debate on possible smoking prohibitions/restrictions by assessing the level of public support here. We also agreed that officials should consider the implications of a ban, including those relating to enforcement.
	As Dr. Campbell made clear in her recent interview with the Belfast Telegraph, while she favours a ban, this would not, of itself, address the appalling toll of premature death and avoidable illness caused by smoking. The ongoing inter-agency work to implement the Tobacco Action Plan is of paramount importance in pursuing our long-term aim of a tobacco-free society.

Students (Appeals)

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on future arrangements for students to appeal against decisions made by further education colleges which are currently dealt with by the Education Department.

Barry Gardiner: Colleges have formal procedures for dealing with complaints that involve the Principal, the Board of Governors and ultimately referral to the Department for Employment and Learning. The Department has the power to give direction to remedy the complaint. These arrangements, however, are being reviewed in partnership with the Association of Northern Ireland Colleges, the Trade Unions and the Department.

Variable Fees

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish the advice provided by the Northern Ireland Higher Education Council to him on the proposal to introduce variable fees in Northern Ireland.

Barry Gardiner: The Northern Ireland Higher Education Council (NIHEC) is an advisory body to the Department for Employment and Learning on higher education matters.
	The Council has provided advice on a number of key issues including the implications for Northern Ireland of proposals to increase funding of higher education through the introduction of variable deferred fees.
	NIHEC advice is provided to the Department on a confidential basis.

Vehicle Tax

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to assist motorists and hauliers whose MOT and PSV tests have been postponed as a result of industrial action by civil servants and who are unable to tax their vehicles.

Angela Smith: The Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency (DVTA), which is responsible for vehicle testing, has taken a range of measures to alleviate the impact of industrial action. These include contacting customers directly affected and, where possible, offering alternative appointments; maximising the use of the capacity available at other test centres; redeploying staff from non-urgent duties; and cancelling non-essential training.
	DVTA has also introduced temporary exemption certificates for goods vehicles, to mitigate the difficulties for the commercial sector. A temporary exemption certificate allows a vehicle to be used on the road without a goods vehicle test certificate for up to three months from the date of issue. It does not alter the responsibility of the owner or operator to maintain the vehicle in a roadworthy condition. The use of temporary exemption certificates has freed up capacity for the testing of vehicles in priority categories such as ambulances and public service vehicles.
	DVTA has also been keeping in contact with the Police Service for Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Northern Ireland (DVLNI) regarding the implications for motorists. The law is very clear: technically it is an offence to drive a vehicle without a valid MOT certificate, and it is an offence to use or keep an unlicensed vehicle on a public road. However, PSNI and DVLNI are aware of the difficulties and have advised that for the moment each case will be considered on its merits. They have also indicated that all relevant circumstances will be taken into account before anyone is prosecuted. The agency has also been in touch with the Association of British Insurers, who have indicated that in most cases motorists affected by industrial action will continue to be covered by their insurance policies. However, they have also advised those affected to check the detail of their policies and also to make direct contact with their insurers.
	Longer term measures under active consideration include temporary exemption certificates for cars and making alternative arrangements for vehicle testing.

Young Offenders

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) boys and (b) girls up to the age of 16 years are detained in young offenders' institutes in Northern Ireland.

Ian Pearson: At present there are two boys aged 16-years-old detained at Hydebank Wood Young Offenders Centre in Northern Ireland. There are currently no females up to the age of 16 detained in young offenders institutions in Northern Ireland.

HEALTH

Carers

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of carers of working age who gave up jobs to care for a sick or disabled relative in each of the last five years.

Stephen Ladyman: The Government have made no estimate of the number of carers of working age who have given up work to provide care.

Carers

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in (a) the UK and (b) Scotland are carers; and what the estimated cost of paid carers being substituted for the care they provide would be.

Stephen Ladyman: The number of people providing unpaid care in England as recorded in the 2001 Census is 4.9 million. The Government have made no estimate of the cost of paid carers being substituted for the care they provide.
	Matters relating to Scotland and Wales are matters for the devolved administration. While the institutions in Northern Ireland are dissolved, responsibility rests with the Northern Ireland Office.

Carers

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of carers in (a) the UK and (b) Scotland have access to respite care.

Stephen Ladyman: The information on the proportion of carers in England that have access to short breaks is not held centrally. Local authority data showed that the 2002–03 Carers' Grant provided 2,140,632 breaks for 143,231 carers, with 31,082 carers benefiting from the services provided directly to them.
	Matters relating to Scotland and Wales are matters for the Devolved Administration. While the institutions in Northern Ireland are dissolved, responsibility rests with the Northern Ireland Office.

Fast Food Outlets

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment has been made of the capacity of local authority environmental health departments to police adequately fast food restaurants and other food outlets; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: There has been no recent assessment of the capacity of local authority environmental health departments to police fast food restaurants and other food outlets. Local authorities receive funding through the Revenue Support Grant, to enable them to undertake inspections to the full range of food premises. It is for each local authority to decide specific resource allocations to ensure that it has the capacity to undertake this work.
	The Food Standards Agency monitors and audits the food law enforcement work of local authorities. This enables assessments to be made of individual local authority food law enforcement systems and activities, including whether food businesses are inspected in accordance with risk as required under statutory codes of practice.

Alzheimer's Disease

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the provision of (a) nursing and (b) personal care for people with Alzheimer's disease, with particular reference to funding.

Stephen Ladyman: holding answer 7 June 2004
	Everyone, including those with Alzheimer's, should receive care based on an assessment of their long term care needs. Where they have a primary need for health care, all their care will be provided and funded by the national health service. Where they have a need for care from a registered nurse this will also be funded by the NHS. Where the assessment shows that their care needs do not currently meet the criteria for fully funded NHS care or care from a registered nurse, personal care can be provided by social services on a means tested basis.

Autistic Spectrum Disorder

Angela Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the appropriate qualifications and experience required of psychiatrists treating (a) in-patients and (b) out-patients who have an autistic spectrum disorder.

Stephen Ladyman: None. This is a professional matter. It is the responsibility of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Autistic Spectrum Disorder

Angela Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the number of people with Asperger's syndrome who are misdiagnosed as schizophrenic.

Stephen Ladyman: None. Where people have Asperger's syndrome or any other form of autistic spectrum disorder, it is important to distinguish behaviours due to their autism from any that might be attributable to a mental health problem in order to ensure that anti-psychotic drugs are prescribed only where they are appropriate.

Clinical Waste (Incineration)

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS hospitals in the Greater London area are able to incinerate their own clinical waste.

John Hutton: The disposal of clinical waste can only be undertaken at facilities licensed by the Environment Agency. There are no national health service trusts in greater London area that are licensed to operate such facilities and each therefore contracts with the private sector to dispose of this waste.

Coldeast Hospital Site, Fareham

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the status is of the housing development for which planning permission has been granted to a private sector developer on the Coldeast Hospital Site, Fareham.

John Hutton: holding answer 7 June 2004
	The ownership of the Coldeast Hospital site is split between the Secretary of State for Health, Fareham and Gosport Primary Care Trust (PCT) and Hampshire Partnership National Health Service Trust.
	Reserved matters planning consent has recently been granted for a total of 253 housing units on those parts of the site owned by the Secretary of State for Health and Fareham and Gosport PCT. The planning consent was not granted to a private sector developer.
	As part of a larger portfolio, an agreement in principle has been reached to transfer the land in the ownership of the Secretary of State for Health to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM). Discussions are continuing on the details of the transfer of the portfolio but once it takes place it will be for ODPM to move forward with the redevelopment of this part of the site.
	Fareham and Gosport PCT is firming up its plans for the health service needs of both Fareham and Gosport residents, and the health campus on the Coldeast site is a key part of those plans.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine Council

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the estimated cost of registration with the new Complementary and Alternative Medicine Council will be.

John Hutton: holding answer 27 May 2004
	On 2 March the Department published proposals for the statutory regulation of herbal medicine and acupuncture practitioners. The consultation period closed on 7 June. I am aware that the cost of statutory regulation is of interest to practitioners and I will carefully consider the comments about costs made in response to the consultation exercise. At this stage we are unable to provide a more accurate estimate of cost than that set out in paragraph 25 of the Department's consultation document, "Regulation of herbal medicine and acupuncture".

Contaminated Blood Products

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many compensation payments have been made, and of what total value, to sufferers of hepatitis C as a result of infection by NHS supplied contaminated blood products.

Melanie Johnson: The National Blood Authority has made payments of £2,608,075 in respect of 107 cases. These payments have been made following Mr. Justice Burton's judgment of 26 March 2001 under the Consumer Protection Act 1987 in respect of patients infected with hepatitis C through blood transfusions between March 1988 and September 1991.
	The NHS Litigation Authority has made payments of £727,027 in respect of 14 cases brought against national health service trusts and health authorities.

Dentistry

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 17 May 2004, Official Report, column 797W, on dentistry, if he will place a copy of the full report, or of its recommendations and conclusions, in the Library.

Rosie Winterton: We plan to publish the report shortly.

Dentistry

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are registered with NHS dentists in Shrewsbury and Atcham.

Stephen Ladyman: The number of people registered with a national health service dentist as at 31 March 2004 in the Shropshire County Primary Care Trust area, which covers the Shrewsbury and Atcham constituency, is shown in the table.
	
		
			 Registrations Numbers registered at 31 March 2004 
		
		
			 Adults 69,550 
			 Children 38,991 
			 Total 108,541

Disability Equipment

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many items of disability equipment issued by the NHS or social services went missing in the last year for which figures are available.

Stephen Ladyman: This information is not collected centrally. However, as part of the integration and modernisation of community equipment services over the past three years, services have been encouraged to improve systems for tracking equipment issued so that it can be recovered when economical to do so, with a view to decontamination and re-issue.
	In addition, the national health service counter fraud and security management service (CFSMS) has set out in its strategy document, "A professional approach to managing security in the NHS", that the security of property and assets is one of its four priority areas. Currently, the CFSMS is working with the Home Office on a Treasury-funded safer hospitals project to look at how technology can be used to better protect staff, professionals and property.

Dr. Jonathan Lampard

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was paid by the NHS to Dr. Jonathan Lampard to set up his NHS dentistry service.

Stephen Ladyman: Jonathan Lampard received a grant of £45,000 to help establish his new practice in Shrewsbury in 1998.
	The grant was provided under the Investing in Dentistry scheme through Section 56 of the National Health Service Act 1977 and approved by the Secretary of State. The conditions agreed by Mr. Lampard included the registration of at least 2,000 patients within one year of opening the practice, the addition of 200 patients during the second year and maintaining that level for a further year. The agreement remained valid for a period of three years from the date of the first registrations (26 March 1998) after which time Mr. Lampard was free of all commitment to the NHS under the agreement.

Dr. Jonathan Lampard

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on how NHS terms and conditions allowed Dr. Jonathan Lampard, a dentist in Shrewsbury, to leave the NHS.

Stephen Ladyman: Under current arrangements, dentists working in the general dental services (GDS) are self employed independent contractors providing dental services. Dentists can practice wherever they like. There are no restrictions and, provided they meet the conditions of suitability, they have an automatic right to provide GDS. They can accept as many or as few national health service patients as they wish and can alter that commitment at will without reference to the primary care trust (PCT). If a dentist working in the GDS wishes to terminate a patient's NHS registration, he/she must give three months notice of his/her intention to the patient. Dentists can quite legally accept only certain categories of patients, for example, children and exempt adults. There is no requirement to give any notice to the PCT about changes in practice acceptance arrangements or of termination of registrations.
	Under proposals in the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003, PCTs will be given new responsibility to secure dental services and will be able to provide assistance and support to dental practices with which they contract. With this responsibility will go the resources, totalling some £1.4 billion for 2004–05, held centrally for dentistry to support them in delivering their new duties on dentistry.
	The shadow special health authority we set up last August for dentistry is aiming to issue in July indicative contract values to dentists and PCTs to enable them to begin discussions about contracts under the new arrangements. PCTs will be able to agree an increase in a dentist's contract value in return for increased commitment.

E-administration

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when (a) electronic transmission of prescriptions and (b) e-booking will commence within the health service.

John Hutton: The electronic transmission of prescriptions in England is scheduled to be implemented from the beginning of 2005. E-booking is being introduced from summer 2004, initially at a small number of sites, but will then be rolled out across the national health service in England with the aim of full coverage by the end of 2005.

Elderly Care Services

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to reassess performance indicators for services for older people.

Stephen Ladyman: The independent Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection is responsible for developing a performance assessment system for use in the national health service, including health services for older people. They are considering how to develop the current performance assessment system for the future.
	The Commission for Social Care Inspection is responsible for devising criteria to be used for the basis of assessing the performance of local authority social services and awarding them a star rating, and for developing performance indicators as part of those criteria.

Fertility Treatment

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the available capacity in England to implement the National Institute for Clinical Excellence's clinical guideline on the assessment and treatment of people with fertility problems; and if he will publish the full results of this assessment;
	(2)  what account was taken of national health service capacity during the development of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence's clinical guideline on the assessment and treatment of people with fertility problems; and with whose advice;
	(3)  what steps he is taking to ensure that there is adequate capacity available to the NHS to implement in full the National Institute for Clinical Excellence's clinical guideline on the assessment and treatment of people with fertility problems.

Melanie Johnson: National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines, such as those for fertility services, are based on assessments of clinical and cost-effectiveness rather than national health service capacity. We recognise, as does NICE, that the NHS cannot reasonably be expected to implement the fertility guideline overnight, but primary care trusts (PCTs) will need to consider the detail of the guideline and review their services. We have advised all PCTs to offer, by April 2005, a minimum of one cycle in vitro fertilisation (IVF) to those who meet the clinical criteria, and to give priority to couples with no children living with them. We expect the NHS, overall funding for which is increasing from £56 billion to over £90 billion between 2003–04 and 2007–08, to make progress to full implementation in the longer term, including progress towards the maximum of three cycles of IVF which the guideline recommends.

Foundation Trusts

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much is planned to be spent by the first wave NHS foundation trusts on new corporate governance arrangements, including elections and support for boards of governors; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: The cost of the governance arrangements is a matter for each national health service foundation trust. These costs will not be entirely additional as they will replicate some current activity that trusts are already doing around informing the public, patients and staff about issues affecting each trust.

Hospital Building Projects

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new NHS hospital building projects are under way in England and Wales.

John Hutton: Currently in England there are 117 hospital schemes counting towards the NHS Plan target of 100 new hospital schemes by 2010. 107 will be built under the private finance initiative (PFI). Of the 107, 38 are now operational and a further 22 are under construction. Of the 10 publicly procured schemes, six are now operational and four are under construction.
	Since devolution to the National Assembly of Wales, no information is held centrally on the hospital building programme in Wales.

Hospital Building Projects

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) planned and (b) actual dates for each stage of new hospital projects approved by the Department were; when each scheme started on site; and when they reached financial close.

John Hutton: The tables show planned and actual dates for the key stages of new hospital projects prioritised by the Department. All schemes are set indicative timetables as part of good project management. Planned financial close dates are given for schemes yet to reach financial close and these are subject to change. They are regularly reviewed and adjusted accordingly; full records of these changes are not held centrally.
	Detailed information on new hospital projects that have not been prioritised by the Department (generally below £20 million) is not held centrally.
	
		Schemes which are operational
		
			 Trust Approval of outline business case Publication of advert in Official Journal of EU Date of financial close Operational 
		
		
			 North Cumbria Acute Hospitals NHS Trust January 1994 January 1996 November 1997 April 2000 
			 Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust March 1995 September 1995 July 1997 September 2000 
			 South Buckinghamshire NHS Trust September 1994 January 1995 December 1997 October 2000 
			 Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust April 1995 March 1995 July 1998 February 2001 
			 North Durham Health Care NHS Trust January 1994 December 1994 March 1998 April 2001 
			 Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust December 1994 July 1995 July 1998 April 2001 
			 South Manchester University Hospitals NHS Trust March 1994 April 1995 June 1998 July 2001 
			 Norfolk and Norwich NHS Trust January 1995 February 1995 January 1998 September 2001 
			 Hereford Hospitals NHS Trust January 1995 June 1995 March 1999 March 2002 
			 Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust December 1995 February 1995 February 1999 March 2002 
			 Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust June 1995 July 1995 March 1999 March 2002 
			 South Durham Healthcare NHS Trust January 1994 December 1994 May 1999 June 2002 
			 King's Healthcare NHS Trust July 1995 September 1995 December 1999 October 2002 
			 Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust December 1993 October 1999 October 1999 December 2002 
			 Leeds Community and Mental Health services Teaching NHS Trust January 1996 October 1996 March 2000 December 2002 
			 Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust November 2002 November 2002 December 2000 March 2003 
			 Bromley Healthcare NHS Trust March 1995 September 1995 November 1998 March 2003 
			 Berkshire Healthcare NHS Trust October 1997 December 1998 May 2001 April 2003 
			 West Middlesex University Hospitals NHS Trust August 1999 September 1998 January 2001 May 2003 
			 South Tees Acute Hospitals NHS Trust October 1994 March 1995 August 1999 August 2003 
			 St. George's Hospital NHS Trust June 1995 March 1996 March 2000 September 203 
		
	
	
		Schemes which have reached financial close with planned operational date.
		
			 Trust Approval of outline business case Publication of advert in Official Journal of EU Date of financial close Planned operational 
		
		
			 Gloucestershire Royal NHS Trust April 1998 April 2000 May 2002 November 2004 
			 Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust November 1996 September 1998 May 2001 December 2004 
			 University College London Hospitals NHS Trust March 1995 October 1995 July 2000 April 2005 
			 East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust May 2000 May 2000 July 2003 July 2005 
			 North West London Hospitals NHS Trust December 2001 May 2002 November 2003 September 2005 
			 Avon and Western Wiltshire Mental Health NHS Trust January 2002 February 2002 March 2004 March 2006 
			 University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust July 2000 August 2000 November 2002 May 2006 
			 Barking, Havering and Redbridge Hospitals NHS Trust March 2000 August 2001 January 2004 November 2006 
			 Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust June 2001 July 2001 December 2003 May 2007 
			 Southern Derbyshire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust June 2000 June 2000 September 2003 May 2008 
		
	
	
		Schemes yet to reach financial close. Operational dates yet to be finalised
		
			 Trust Approval of outline business case Publication of advert in Official Journal of EU Planned financial close1,2 
		
		
			 Brighton Health Care NHS Trust February 2002 July 2002 2nd Quarter 2004 
			 Lewisham Hospital NHS Trust June 2002 June 2002 2nd Quarter 2004 
			 Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust December 2000 Aug 2001 3rd Quarter 2004 
			 Central Manchester Healthcare/Manchester Childrens Hospitals NHS Trust May 2000 June 2001 2nd Quarter 2004 
			 Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals/Newcastle City Health NHS Trusts June 2001 July 2001 4th Quarter 2004 
			 Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust September 2001 October 2001 2nd Quarter 2004 
			 Mid Essex Hospitals NHS Trust June 2002 November 2002 4th Quarter 2004 
			 Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust August 2002 October 2002 4th Quarter 2004 
			 North Staffordshire Hospital NHS Trusts August 2002 August 2002 4th Quarter 2004 
			 Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust November 2002 December 2002 4th Quarter 2004 
			 North Middlesex Hospitals NHS Trust August 2002 December 2002 4th Quarter 2004 
			 University Hospital Birmingham/South Birmingham Mental Health NHS Trusts March 2002 April 2002 1st Quarter 2005 
			 Pinderfield and Pontefract Hospitals/Wakefield and Pontefract Community NHS Trust November 2002 November 2002 1st Quarter 2005 
			 St. Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Trust November 2002 November 2002 1st Quarter 2005 
			 Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust May 2003 May 2003 2nd Quarter 2005 
			 Barts and The London NHS Trust Feb 2002 Feb 2002 2nd Quarter 2005 
			 Salford Royal Hospitals NHS Trust March 2003 May 2003 2nd Quarter 2005 
			 Essex Rivers Healthcare NHS Trust November 2003 November 2003 3rd Quarter 2005 
			 Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust November 2003 November 2003 3rd Quarter 2005 
			 Tameside and Glossop Acute Services NHS Trust May 2003 May 2003 3rd Quarter 2005 
			 Peterborough Hospitals NHS Trust March 2003 September 2003 4th Quarter 2005 
			 University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust November 2002 December 2002 4th Quarter 2005 
		
	
	Notes:
	1 Full business case approval, financial close and start on site are, generally, co-terminous.
	2 By calendar year quarters.
	Schemes yet to publish an advert in Official Journal of EU.
	Whipps Cross University Hospital
	Walsall Hospitals/Walsall Community Health NHS Trusts
	Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust
	Barnet & Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust
	Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust
	South Devon Healthcare NHS Trust
	Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells/lnvicta Community Care NHS Trusts
	Paddington Basin
	Bradford Hospitals NHS Trust
	United Bristol Healthcare NHS Trust
	Schemes under review
	East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust

Locum Staff

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the average cost of (a) a locum doctor and (b) an agency nurse for one day.

John Hutton: This information is not held centrally. Although the Department collects data on overall expenditure on non-national health service staff by NHS trusts and primary care trusts, it does not collect separate information on the numbers of days worked by temporary staff, or on expenditure on agency staff.

Drug Addiction

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the estimated number of drug addicts was at the latest date for which figures are available.

Melanie Johnson: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Coventry, South (Mr. Jim Cunningham), on 10 June 2004, Official Report, columns 545–47W.

National Blood Authority

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the 5,560 staff reported in the Department of Health Report 2004 as employed by the National Blood Authority are in administrative or managerial posts.

Melanie Johnson: The National Blood Service (NBS) currently employs 5,378 (whole-time equivalent) staff. The approximate breakdown of staff within the NBS is as follows:
	34 per cent.—professionally qualified clinical staff;
	This includes all doctors, qualified nurses, qualified scientific and technical staff.
	55 per cent.—support to clinical staff;
	This includes staff working in direct support of clinical staff, often with direct donor care. These staff have a direct impact on the NBS' ability to supply blood and patient services to hospitals;
	approximately 10 per cent.—central functions such as human resources, finance and information technology, property and estates, and managers; and
	approximately one per cent.—senior managers with overall responsibility for budgets, manpower or assets, or accountable for a significant area of work.

National Service Framework (Long-term Conditions)

Betty Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to publish the National Service Framework for Long Term Conditions; and what input he has received from (a) the National Assembly for Wales and (b) other Welsh organisations in developing the framework for the benefit of those people in Wales who receive neurological services from centres in England.

Stephen Ladyman: The external reference group which we established to support development of the national service framework for long term conditions submitted its advice to the Department last month. We are committed to publishing the framework as soon as possible but we need to consider the economic and practical implications of the advice before publishing the framework and will therefore keep the publication and implementation timetable of the framework under review.
	The framework will focus on improving services for people with neurological conditions and addressing some of the common issues that can promote independence for people with other long term conditions. It will apply to services across England and the people that receive treatment, care and support at these services.
	Officials from the National Assembly for Wales were involved in the early scoping of the framework and there have been follow up bilateral discussions with departmental officials during its development.
	The National Assembly for Wales is also conducting a strategic review of neuroscience services in Wales, which will consider equity of service provision for people in Wales who are receiving services in England and those receiving services in Wales.

NHS Continuing Care (Recompense)

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 10 May 2004, Official Report, column 157W, on continuing NHS care, how many people were granted recompense for being wrongly denied fully funded national health service continuing care; and what the aggregate cost of that recompense was.

Stephen Ladyman: Information on the number of people who were wrongly denied fully funded national health service continuing care and the overall cost of recompense will be published once the data has been validated.

Obesity

Howard Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money has been (a) allocated and (b) spent for anti-obesity advertising in every year since 1997.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 19 May 2004
	There has been no expenditure by the Department of Health specifically on anti-obesity advertising during this period.
	The Government lead a range of programmes aimed at improving nutrition and promoting physical activity that will help fight obesity. Spending on Department of Health-led programmes aimed at improving children's diets was £140.98 million in 2002–03, including the national school fruit scheme (with funding from the New Opportunities Fund (NOF)), food in schools (in conjunction with the Department for Education and Skills), welfare foods and support for breastfeeding; plus funding not specific to children of £9.83 million, including five-a-day community initiatives (from NOF), Food Standards Agency activities and grants to charities.
	Spending on Department of Health-led programmes to increase physical activity includes £1 billion by 2006 to transform physical education and school sport, £3 million over the next three years to create a team of regional cycling co-ordinators, £10 million for Sporting Playgrounds programme, £32 million on improving, and creating new playing fields (from the Sports Lottery Fund), £115 million to expand the numbers of sports colleges, £108 million in innovative sport and exercise facilities (from Sport England and NOF), and £2.6 million for 10 local exercise action pilots (Sport England and the Countryside Agency)
	In addition, local nutrition and activity initiatives are funded through health action zones, sure start, healthy living centres and through general funding allocations to health authorities and primary care trusts, on which information is not collected centrally.

Orthopaedics

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the success rates of orthopaedic procedures undertaken by overseas surgeons on short-term contracts.

John Hutton: All contracts for orthopaedic procedures, including those involving overseas surgeons, are subject to review including audit of clinical outcomes by the employing trusts. All contracts are subject to local clinical governance policies which will include the audit of surgical procedures. Information on clinical outcome will be held locally.

Plutonium

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the studies on plutonium and teeth to which reference is made in the reply to the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) of 4 November 2003, Official Report, columns 597–98; and whether further work has been funded by his Department on that matter since this date.

Melanie Johnson: The study referred to was published as a scientific paper entitled, "Variations in the Concentration of Plutonium, Strontium-90 and Total Alpha-emitters in Human Teeth Collected Within the British Isles", R. G. O'Donnell et al. Science of the Total Environment, 201 (1997) 235–243.
	The Department has not funded further studies specifically aimed at measurement of radioactivity in children's teeth. Since 1985, the Department has funded a programme of research in the field of radiological protection and the study by O'Donnell et al was funded from this programme.

Registered Doctors

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the number of doctors (a) from the UK, (b) from the European Economic Area, (c) from overseas and (d) in total who have registered in the UK in the last year.

John Hutton: The General Medical Council is the independent regulatory body responsible for registering doctors in the United Kingdom. Figures held by it are collated annually. The table shows the number of doctors whose primary medical qualification was obtained in the area specified.
	
		2003
		
			  Number of doctors 
		
		
			 UK 4,732 
			 European Economic Area 2,129 
			 Overseas 12,282 
			 Total 19,143

Registered Doctors

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doctors from overseas took the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board test in order to register to practise in the UK in the last 12 months.

John Hutton: The General Medical Council is responsible for administering the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) test for overseas doctors, and collates figures annually. The table shows the figures for 2003.
	
		PLAB 2003
		
			  Part One Part Two 
		
		
			 Attempted 12,513 6,580 
			 Passed 7,711 5,207 
			 Percentage pass rate 62 79

Serotonin

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will list the drug manufacturers which have submitted studies to the comprehensive review of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors being undertaken by the Medicines and Healthcare Regulations Agency; and how many of the studies each manufacturer submitted are (a) published and (b) unpublished;
	(2)  how many (a) published studies and (b) unpublished studies have been submitted by drug manufacturers to the comprehensive review of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors being undertaken by the Medicines and Healthcare Regulations Agency;
	(3)  which (a) drugs and (b) drug manufacturers are the subject of the comprehensive review of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors being undertaken by the Medicines and Healthcare Regulations Agency;
	(4)  when the comprehensive review of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors being undertaken by the Medicines and Healthcare Regulations Agency will be published.

Stephen Ladyman: GlaxoSmithKline, Eli Lilly and Co Ltd., Solvay Healthcare Ltd., Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Organon Laboratories Ltd., Lundbeck Ltd. and Pfizer Ltd. have submitted information to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for review by the committee on safety of medicines' expert working group on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
	The information submitted is in the form of study reports, analyses of studies and data from spontaneous reporting schemes. The following table provides the drug substance names and the number of placebo-controlled studies represented in the submissions on use in children and adolescents for each drug substance.
	
		
			   Drug substance (product) Number of placebo-controlled studies submitted (paediatric use, any indication) 
		
		
			 Paroxetine (Seroxat) 6 
			 Fluoxetine (Prozac) 4 
			 Fluvoxamine (Faverin) 2 
			 Venlafaxine (Efexor) 4 
			 Mirtazapine (Zispin) 2 
			 Citalopram (Cipramil) 2 
			 Escitalopram (Cipralex) 0 
			 Sertraline (Lustral) 3 
		
	
	The expert working group has completed its review of SSRIs in the treatment of major depressive disorder in children and adolescents and has published previously unpublished summaries of the trials on which its advice was based. The review of SSRIs in adults is on-going and further data are expected for most substances. To date the MHRA has received reports of 214 studies conducted in adult patients and 94 studies conducted in healthy volunteers involving paroxetine. It is not possible to identify from the data submitted which of the studies have been published in the scientific literature.
	The expert working group expects to publish its report later this year.

Smoking Cessation

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the validity of the four-week follow-up in determining the success of smoking cessation programmes.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 27 May 2004
	We considered whether to monitor the success of clients using the national health service stop smoking services at longer intervals than four weeks, such as six months and one year, but decided that this would present practical difficulties for the stop smoking services, after a trial of monitoring at 52 weeks which produced high lost-to-follow up rates.
	We have research in place to evaluate how the services have performed in practice, the final results of which will be available later in the year. The preliminary findings of this work led the research team to estimate that around a quarter of those successfully quit after four weeks will still be abstinent after a year. These results are consistent with those of clinical trials used to guide the setting up of the services.

Waiting Lists/Times

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) mean and (b) median waiting times for inpatients were in the NHS for each year from 1991 to 2003.

John Hutton: holding answer 14 June 2004
	The table shows estimates of the mean and median waiting times for inpatients from 1991 to 2003.
	
		Estimated average time patients on the list had been waiting for elective admission England: (commissioner based(49)
		
			  Average waiting time in months 
			 March Mean Median 
		
		
			 1991 7.57 4.43 
			 1992 5.12 3.20 
			 1993 4.53 3.18 
			 1994 4.60 3.24 
			 1995 4.04 2.85 
			 1996 3.67 2.73 
			 1997 4.18 3.05 
			 1998 4.62 3.43 
			 1999 4.30 2.97 
			 2000 4.30 2.97 
			 2001 4.18 2.90 
			 2002 4.01 2.92 
			 2003 3.61 2.75 
			 2004 2.85 2.35 
		
	
	(49) Commissioner based data is only available from 1994, provider based data is used prior to that date.
	Source:
	Department of Health form KH07

Wheelchairs

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many wheelchairs have been issued through the NHS or social services departments in each of the last seven years.

Stephen Ladyman: These figures are not held centrally.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Access to State Education

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will set out the educational provision and access to state education within the UK for (a) EU citizens, (b) non-EU citizens with work permits, (c) non-EU citizens with student visas and (d) asylum seekers pending determination of their cases.

Alan Johnson: For children, local education authorities have a legal duty to ensure that education is available to all those of compulsory school age (five to 16 years) within their area appropriate to age, abilities and aptitudes and any special education needs they may have, irrespective of the child's immigration status or rights of residence in a particular area.
	All groups specified can study within FE and HE institutions in the UK subject to available places and meeting admissions criteria.
	Eligibility for funded provision among these groups varies for FE and HE. In FE and HE, EU citizens who have been ordinarily resident in the European Economic Area (plus Switzerland) for three years before their course starts are eligible for home fee status. In FE, work permit holders who have been here for three years or more and asylum seekers who are in receipt of NASS benefits are eligible for home fees status, the other groups mentioned by the hon. Member are liable for tuition fees at the overseas rate. In HE, non-EU citizens with work permits or student visas and asylum seekers pending determination of their cases are not eligible for funded provision. However, people recognised as refugees by the UK Government are entitled to home fee status.
	Eligibility for FE Learner Support Funds and HE student support also vary. Further information setting out these variations in more detail is as follows.
	
		Eligibility for further education
		
			  EU citizens Non-EU citizens with work permits Non-EU citizens with student visas Asylum seekers 
		
		
			 Young people 
			 Young people aged 16 to 19 Eligible for public funding if: EU national and resident in EEA for three years; or UK passport holder. Otherwise, liable for tuition fees at overseas rate. Eligible for public funding if: resident in England for three years; or if accompanying parents with work permits. Otherwise, liable for tuition fees at overseas rate. Ineligible for public funding. May access FE at overseas student tuition fee rates. Eligible for public funding if supported by NASS or similar, or in the care of local authority. Otherwise, liable for tuition fees at overseas rate. 
			  
			 Adults 
			 Adults eligible for public funding may be required to contribute to the costs of their learning. There is a fee assumption that adult adults will contribute 25 per cent. of the basic cost of the course. This fee contribution may be varied at the discretion of the college. Fees for adults on low incomes may be waived. Eligible for public funding if: EU national and resident in EEA for three years. Otherwise, liable for tuition fees at overseas rate. Eligible for public funding if resident in England for three years. Otherwise, liable for tuition fees at overseas rate. Ineligible for public funding. May access FE at overseas student tuition fee rates. Eligible for public funding if supported by NASS or similar. Otherwise, liable for tuition fees at overseas rate. 
			  
			 FE Learner Support Funds
			 All eligibility constraints on Learning Support Funding (LSF), for learners 16–18 who are undertaking state/publicly funded courses have been removed. All learners enrolled on a LSC funded sixth form or FE course will have access to LSF including funding for transport, child care, residential and hardship. EU citizens aged 16–19 are eligible for FE Learner Support Funds if they have been ordinarily resident in the UK for a three year period and have settled status in the UK. These students aged 19 plus are eligible for FE learner support funds if: (i) The student has been settled in the UK (ie with no restriction on the period of stay) (ii) The student must have been ordinarily resident in England or Wales and settled in the UK for the three years before the beginning of the course (iii) No part of the residence must have been mainly or wholly for the purposes of receiving an education. Non EU citizens with work permits are not eligible for FE Learning Support Funds. Non EU citizens with s are not eligible for FE Learning Support Funds. Asylum seekers aged between 16 and 19 are entitled to apply for help with essential course related expenses such as transport, equipment, books and materials. Those 19 plus with pending cases are not eligible for FE Learner Support Funds until ELE/Exception Leave to Remain has been granted and provided they satisfy the three year residency requirement or refugee status has been granted. 
		
	
	Eligibility for higher education
	EU nationals
	EU nationals who have been resident in the EEA (or Switzerland) for three years before their course starts are entitled to be assessed for tuition fees as "home" students. The "home" rate of fees for 2004/05 is £1,150.
	EU nationals are entitled to means tested help with their tuition fees but not entitled to a maintenance loan or any supplementary grants unless they are EEA migrant workers or have settled status in the UK and meet the three year residence requirement in the UK and Islands.
	Non-EU citizens with work permits or student visas
	Non-EU citizens with work permits or student visas are generally classified as "overseas" students and have to pay the full cost of their tuition.
	Non-EU citizens with work permits or student visas are not eligible for higher education student support.
	Asylum seekers
	Asylum seekers pending determination of their cases are treated as overseas students. Those Asylum Seekers and their dependants who have been granted Discretionary Leave or Humanitarian Protection from the Home Office as a result of an asylum application or are formally recognised as a refugee by the UK Government may be treated as "home" students.
	Asylum seekers and their dependants do not qualify for higher education student support.

Adult Learning

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions he has had with the Learning and Skills Council on its recent decision to withdraw funding from adult learning courses which are not vocational.

Ivan Lewis: I have discussed with the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) its overall funding position for 2004–05. Adult learning funding through further education and our support for adult education services will continue to provide a wide range of learning from approved vocational qualifications to community based informal learning. As part of the normal annual planning cycle local LSCs discuss with learning providers the mix of provision that is required to meet the needs of local communities, learners and employers. Where there is a need for more vocational provision to meet the needs of learners and employers I would expect local LSCs and learning providers to re-direct resources to meet those priorities.

Adult Learning

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what public funding has been spent on adult (a) literacy and (b) numeracy in Stoke-on-Trent North in each year since 1997.

Ivan Lewis: The estimated total spend on "Skills For Life" (the Government's strategy for literacy, language and numeracy needs of all post-16 learners from pre-entry level up to and including level 2) and on Key Skills (essential skills of communication, application of number and information technology), from April 2001 to July 2003, in the Staffordshire Learning and Skills Council (LSC) area is set out in the following table.
	
		£000
		
			  Basic skills Key skills 
		
		
			 April 2001 to July 2001(50) 2,341 788 
			 August 2001 to July 2002 3,123 1,006 
			 August 2002 to July 2003 4,899 2,063 
		
	
	(50) The figures for April to July 2001 include costs incurred from August 2000 on learning aims continuing into April 2001.
	From the information available to the LSC it has not been feasible to obtain estimates at constituency level or separate figures by subject without incurring disproportionate cost. Likewise it has not been feasible to obtain comparable figures for periods before April 2001 when the Skills for Life strategy was launched and the LSC was formed, but information shows it was considerably less than at present.

Adult Learning Inspectorate

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the full-time equivalent headcount of the Adult Learning Inspectorate was in each year since 1999–2000; and how much funding was allocated to it in each year.

Alan Johnson: The Adult Learning Inspectorate (ALI) became operational in April 2001 and has been building up to its full responsibilities since then. The information requested is provided in the following table.
	
		
			 Operating year Full-time equivalent staff Funding (£ million) 
		
		
			 2001–02 189.5 17.1 
			 2002–03 225.5 24.5 
			 2003–04 254 (51)27.6 
			 2004–05 (52)272 (53)30.4 
		
	
	(51) Estimated.
	(52) 31 May 2004.
	(53) Forecast.
	Notes:
	1. Funding for 2003–04 is the forecast of expenditure.
	2. Funding for 2004–05 is the latest planned expenditure.
	Source:
	ALI resource budget and expenditure figures.
	The expenditure figure for 2001–02 is an update to the amount reported in the recent Departmental Annual Report, which contained an error. Corrective action is being taken.

Adult Skills Provision

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to maintain adult skills provision at (a) Basic level, (b) Level 2 and (c) Level 3 in Weston-super-Mare.

Ivan Lewis: The Government outlined their commitment to improving adult skills in "21st Century Skills" published in July 2003 and has set challenging PSA targets for skills improvement in basic skills and at Level 2.
	The West of England Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is responsible for funding adult education and skills in Weston-super-Mare area through the local further education college and other work based training providers. The college has been performing well and plans for the creation of a new sixth form centre, alongside improvements to the main campus, have recently been approved by the LSC.
	Discussions with the college about its three year development have included plans for a 32 per cent. growth in the number of basic skills learners and plans to maintain their current good attainment at Level 2 and Level 3.
	The Strategic Area Review being carried out across the country will support continued collaboration between post-16 provision, the local education authority and the cluster of 11–16 schools in Weston-super-Mare.

Capital Allocations (School Buildings)

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much ring-fenced money for classroom building projects has been given by his Department to each local education authority in the South West in each of the last three years.

David Miliband: The following table shows this Department's total capital allocations for school buildings to local education authorities in the South West from 2001–02 to 2003–04. It shows both ring-fenced and total allocations.
	It is our policy to reduce the proportion of support that is ring-fenced for individual projects, and increasingly to allocate support direct to schools and authorities. This allows them to decide the priorities for investment. For example, through devolved formula capital, a typical primary school of 250 pupils will receive £25,500, and a typical secondary school of 1,000 pupils will receive £87,250 in 2005–06.
	
		South West capital allocations 2001–02 to 2003–04
		
			 £000 
			  2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
			 LEA Total allocations of which: ringfenced(54) Total allocations of which: ringfenced(54) Total allocations of which: ringfenced(54) 
		
		
			 Bath and North East Somerset 4,607 799 11,227 4,757 12,198 5,497 
			 Bournemouth 4,657 2,022 3,353 112 5,066 664 
			 Bristol, City of 16,115 6,999 13,219 1,584 73,789 60,745 
			 Cornwall 16,897 2,792 24,109 3,323 99,902 73,613 
			 Devon 23,845 3,498 41,085 7,043 122,740 79,797 
			 Dorset 10,115 873 19,161 5,205 22,855 5,434 
			 Gloucestershire 21,165 2,852 22,917 1,921 28,486 3,352 
			 Isles of Scilly 183 52 198 26 285 76 
			 North Somerset 5,241 1,199 5,606 472 17,971 2,408 
			 Plymouth 5,876 2,016 10,936 1,865 16,397 1,557 
			 Poole 5,942 4,210 5,799 2,729 6,161 582 
			 Somerset 11,760 1,268 16,045 1,283 19,249 587 
			 South Gloucestershire 9,769 945 14,110 4,713 14,853 359 
			 Swindon 3,386 215 13,820 905 80,240 63,063 
			 Torbay 5,993 2,700 9,422 398 9,470 173 
			 Wiltshire 10,170 626 15,567 466 27,615 3,983 
		
	
	(54) Includes allocations ring-fenced for the authority( including any PFI credits), but not funding direct to schools whether or not passported via the LEA. Ring-fencing may be either to a project or to meeting ministerial priorities.

Obesity (Children)

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures he is taking to combat bullying that occurs as a result of childhood obesity.

Ivan Lewis: Our free pack 'Bullying: Don't Suffer in Silence' is designed to help schools deal effectively with all forms of bullying. The pack states: "Bullying can take many forms . . . This may be because of individual characteristics", and we recognise that regardless of how it is manifested, bullying is a serious problem which puts the emotional well-being and educational achievement of pupils at risk. The pack (which was updated in September 2002) is freely available to be ordered by all schools. All secondary and middle schools have received a copy as part of the KS3 behaviour and attendance training.
	In September 2003 I launched a new information film aimed at children and young people. The film encourages pupils who are experiencing bullying to tell someone who can help so they do not suffer in silence. I also announced an anti-bullying charter for schools. This has been drawn up in consultation with professional associations and voluntary sector partners, and it was launched in November 2003 at the first of a series of regional conferences, called "Make the Difference", for schools and other partners. The charter has been made available to schools. The conferences (nine in total) culminate with a final conference in Chorley on June 14.
	The purpose of the conferences has been to provide a forum for schools and related partners to share good practice. This has been facilitated by workshops and exhibitor stalls where attendees can gather a host of information on combating bullying.

Circus Performers

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  whether there is a skills shortage in the North West Region for (a) clowns, (b) tightrope walkers, (c) jugglers, (d) stilts performers, (e) unicyclists and (f) other circus performers;
	(2)  what his assessment is of the need to train people in circus skills in the North West Region.

Ivan Lewis: Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) have the remit for assessing skills needs in their sector. The Creative and Cultural Industries SSC (CCISSC), which is in development, will cover circus performers. The SSC is currently reviewing the need for Creative Apprenticeships within the sector and as part of this review the needs of the circus industry will be assessed.
	Regionally, the NW Development Agency, working in partnership with stakeholders in the region, has the lead responsibility for developing and taking forward the economic strategy for the North West. The strategy has a strong sectoral focus concentrating on those sectors of importance and potential importance to the North West economy. Tourism is one of the priority sectors in the North West.
	While touring circuses bring pleasure to many, in determining the region's tourism priorities no assessment has been made of the contribution they make to the North West economy and there are no plans to do so.

Education Funding

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cost per pupil of education in (a) primary school, (b) secondary school and (c) sixth form in Greater London was in each of the last seven years, broken down by borough.

David Miliband: holding answer 7 June 2004
	The information requested has been placed in the Libraries.

Education Funding

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much, at today's prices, was spent on average per (a) secondary and (b) primary school in each of the last 15 years; and what the planned spending is in each of the next four years.

David Miliband: holding answer 13 May 2004
	The available information is contained within the following tables.
	Decisions on the allocation of resources in future years between each of the different sectors of education will be taken and announced later in the year.
	
		Average spend per (a) secondary and (b) primary school in each of the last 15 years
		
			 Primary schools 
			  Net current expenditure (£000) Number of primary schools Average spend per primary school (£000) 
		
		
			 1987–88 6,664,667 19,319 345 
			 1988–99 6,435,677 19,232 335 
			 1989–90 — — — 
			 1990–91 — — — 
			 1991–92 — — — 
			 1992–93 — — — 
			 1993–94 — — — 
			 1994–95 — — — 
			 1995–96 — — — 
			 1996–97 — — — 
			 1997–98 — — — 
			 1998–99 — — — 
			 1999–2000 10,248,425 18,158 564 
			 2000–01 11,014,589 18,069 610 
			 2001–02 11,804,357 17,985 656 
		
	
	
		Pre-primary and primary schools
		
			  Net current expenditure (£000) Number of primary schools Average spend pre-primary and primary school (£000) 
		
		
			 1987–88 — — — 
			 1988–99 — — — 
			 1989–90 7,237,762 19,728 367 
			 1990–91 8,081,461 19,615 412 
			 1991–92 7,812,948 19,488 401 
			 1992–93 9,077,080 19,391 468 
			 1993–94 9,184,320 19,237 477 
			 1994–95 9,372,113 19,104 491 
			 1995–96 9,350,748 19,029 491 
			 1996–97 9,319,716 18,938 492 
			 1997–98 9,192,745 18,847 488 
			 1998–99 9,706,290 18,756 518 
			 1999–2000 10,637,498 18,674 570 
			 2000–01 11,567,295 18,577 623 
			 2001–02 12,540,414 18,481 679 
		
	
	
		Secondary schools
		
			  Net current expenditure (£000) Number of secondary schools Average spend per secondary school (£000) 
		
		
			 1987–88 8,540,156 4,153 2,056 
			 1988–99 8,496,111 4,035 2,106 
			 1989–90 8,419,497 3,976 2,118 
			 1990–91 8,990,987 3,897 2,307 
			 1991–92 8,293,519 3,847 2,156 
			 1992–93 8,908,650 3,773 2,361 
			 1993–94 7,846,904 3,629 2,162 
			 1994–95 7,636,242 3,614 2,113 
			 1995–96 7,445,108 3,594 2,072 
			 1996–97 7,341,423 3,569 2,057 
			 1997–98 7,259,360 3,567 2,035 
			 1998–99 7,426,109 3,560 2,086 
			 1999–2000 9,668,610 3,550 2,724 
			 2000–01 10,442,651 3,481 3,000 
			 2001–02 11,441,503 3,457 3,310 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The financial data are taken from local education authorities' Section 52 Outturn Statements submitted to the DfES from 1999–2000 onwards and the ODPM's RO1 statement previously. 1999–2000 figures reflect the return of GM schools to local authority maintenance. Financial data is in £000's. Figures are adjusted to 2002–03 prices using the March 2004 GDP deflators.
	2. In 1987–88 and 1988–89 pre-primary expenditure was not collected on R01. From 1989–90 onwards expenditure was not distinguished between pre-primary and primary sectors until the inception of the Section 52 outturn statements in 1999–2000. Pre-primary expenditure does not match the number of pre-primary schools because it also includes expenditure on nurseries in the private sector, which are not included in the school count.
	3. Net Current Expenditure (NCE) includes expenditure within schools and also that incurred centrally by the LEA. Between 1987–88 and 1992–93 NCE after recharges was not recorded on RO1. In these years Net Recurrent Expenditure is used and consequently figures in those years may not be strictly comparable with future years.
	4. Spending in 1997–98 reflects the transfer of monies from local government to central Government for the nursery vouchers scheme. These were returned to local government in 1998–99.
	5. The number of schools is taken from the Annual Schools Census. Middle schools are included as deemed secondary.

Education Funding

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much public funding was spent on education in Crosby in each year from 1992 to 1997.

David Miliband: The information requested is submitted to the Department according to local education authority areas rather than constituency level and as such the figures provided are for Sefton LEA:
	
		Net current expenditure
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1992–93 127,566 
			 1993–94 120,072 
			 1994–95 121,425 
			 1995–96 127,284 
			 1996–97 129,224 
			 1997–98 129,018 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The financial data are taken from Sefton LEA's RO1 statement submitted to ODPM.
	2. In 1992–93 net current expenditure after recharges was not collected on RO1. In this year net recurrent expenditure is used and consequently figures for this year may not be strictly comparable with those for future years.
	3. Net current expenditure (NCE) includes expenditure within schools and also that incurred centrally by the LEA.

Education Services (Essex)

Alan Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many teaching assistants were employed in state schools in (a) the County of Essex in each year from 1980 to 1997 and (b) the County of Essex and the unitary authorities of Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock in each year from 1998 to 2003.

David Miliband: The information is shown in the following tables. The first table shows the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) teaching assistants 1 in maintained schools in Essex LEA in each January between 1992 and 1998. Information is only available from 1992 when teaching assistants data were first collected. The second table shows the number of FTE teaching assistants in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock LEAs after local government re-organisation in April 1998, in each January between 1999 and 2003.
	It is expected that information on the number of teaching assistants by LEA for 2004 will be available in the near future. A table will be placed in the House of Commons Library.
	1 Includes teaching assistants, special needs support staff and support staff for minority ethnic pupils.
	
		
			  Essex Southend-on-Sea Thurrock Total 
		
		
			 1992 620 — — — 
			 1993 670 — — — 
			 1994 900 — — — 
			 1995 1,270 — — — 
			 1996 1,430 — — — 
			 1997 1,700 — — — 
			 1998 1,830 — — — 
			 1999 1,610 220 200 2,030 
			 2000 1,740 280 290 2,310 
			 2001 2,070 350 330 2,750 
			 2002 3,110 460 430 4,000 
			 2003 3,450 560 530 4,540 
		
	
	Source:
	Annual School Census

Education Spending

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much on average per child was contributed from public funds to the education of school-age children in each year since 1997 for which figures are available, broken down by local authority area.

David Miliband: The information requested is contained within the following table:
	
		Total funding per pupil aged 3 to 1) -- £
		
			  1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
		
		
			 Camden 3,830 3,850 4,120 4,490 4,770 4,900 5,200 
			 Greenwich 3,490 3,550 3,810 4,200 4,440 4,540 4,740 
			 Hackney 4,020 4,050 4,370 4,710 4,950 5,130 5,400 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 3,750 3,810 4,050 4,420 4,700 4,940 5,140 
			 Islington 3,720 3,820 4,070 4,530 4,850 4,990 5,190 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 3,580 3,680 4,020 4,390 4,710 5,030 5,280 
			 Lambeth 4,000 4,070 4,320 4,660 4,890 5,080 5,240 
			 Lewisham 3,690 3,760 3,970 4,270 4,540 4,700 4,910 
			 Southwark 3,730 3,800 4,040 4,360 4,620 4,790 4,960 
			 Tower Hamlets 3,970 4,090 4,460 4,810 5,130 5,290 5,510 
			 Wandsworth 3,450 3,480 3,700 3,990 4,230 4,280 4,610 
			 Westminster 3,640 3,660 3,950 4,270 4,510 4.700 5,040 
			 Barking and Dagenham 2,890 3,060 3,180 3,440 3,670 3,800 3,970 
			 Barnet 2,870 2,930 3,060 3,240 3,510 3,600 3,760 
			 Bexley 2,730 2,810 2,900 3,090 3,270 3,360 3,490 
			 Brent 3,300 3,370 3,540 3,750 4,030 4,170 4,380 
			 Bromley 2,730 2.800 2,920 3,120 3,310 3,370 3,490 
			 Croydon 2,950 3,000 3,150 3,350 3,560 3,670 3,780 
			 Ealing 2,990 3,130 3,290 3,570 3,830 3,900 4,170 
			 Enfield 2,980 3,050 3,210 3,410 3,670 3,800 3,930 
			 Haringey 3,390 3,450 3,710 4,010 4,300 4,420 4,610 
			 Harrow 2,840 2,900 3.020 3,240 3.450 3,550 3.780 
			 Havering 2,720 2,800 2,890 3,080 3,280 3,360 3,490 
			 Hillingdon 2,850 2,920 3,070 3,260 3,400 3,490 3,670 
			 Hounslow 3,000 3,090 3,250 3,480 3,720 3,860 4,090 
			 Kingston upon Thames 2,680 2,740 2,870 3,080 3,310 3,370 3,490 
			 Merton 2,860 2,910 3,050 3,300 3,560 3,570 3,780 
			 Newham 3,460 3,560 3,720 3,990 4,270 4,380 4,500 
			 Redbridge 2,960 3,000 3,110 3,290 3,480 3,550 3,620 
			 Richmond upon Thames 2,730 2,740 2,850 3,070 3,250 3,310 3.460 
			 Sutton 2,860 2,880 2,990 3,180 3,370 3,430 3,580 
			 Waltham Forest 3,250 3,280 3,460 3,720 4,000 4,120 4,230 
			 Birmingham 2,750 2,850 3,040 3,350 3,580 3,650 3,820 
			 Coventry 2,620 2,730 2,880 3,130 3,270 3,330 3,490 
			 Dudley 2,340 2,470 2.600 2,820 2,950 3,040 3,180 
			 Sandwell 2,590 2,720 2,870 3,100 3,290 3,400 3,580 
			 Solihull 2,400 2,480 2,580 2,790 2,930 2,980 3,210 
			 Walsall 2,510 2,600 2,760 3,000 3,140 3,220 3,360 
			 Wolverhampton 2,620 2,710 2,890 3,160 3,340 3,490 3,630 
			 Knowsley 2,870 2,980 3,160 3,520 3,780 3,880 3,970 
			 Liverpool 2,830 2,940 3,120 3,510 3,740 3,830 3,910 
			 St. Helens 2,510 2,590 2,710 2,980 3,210 3,290 3,520 
			 Sefton 2,510 2,600 2,730 3,000 3,180 3,260 3,440 
			 Wirral 2,570 2,700 2,820 3,100 3,310 3,400 3,540 
			 Bolton 2,490 2,580 2,740 2,990 3,130 3,220 3,350 
			 Bury 2,410 2,510 2,650 2,870 3,010 3,100 3,260 
			 Manchester 2,910 3,020 3,260 3,660 3,880 3,970 4,130 
			 Oldham 2,570 2,660 2,840 3,070 3,240 3,390 3,560 
			 Rochdale 2,590 2,680 2,850 3,120 3,300 3,440 3,610 
			 Salford 2,570 2,690 2,870 3,220 3,450 3,510 3,680 
			 Stockport 2,380 2,460 2,590 2,820 2,960 3,010 3,170 
			 Tameside 2,470 2,560 2,700 2,930 3,120 3,210 3,370 
			 Trafford 2,450 2,520 2,680 2,900 3,070 3,100 3,260 
			 Wigan 2,450 2,530 2,670 2,890 3,040 3,100 3,280 
			 Barnsley 2,530 2,620 2,770 3,000 3,180 3,270 3,490 
			 Doncaster 2,570 2,660 2,810 3,030 3,190 3,270 3,510 
			 Rotherham 2,560 2,620 2,780 3,070 3.260 3,320 3,500 
			 Sheffield 2,580 2,650 2,830 3,140 3,330 3,390 3,520 
			 Bradford 2,650 2,730 2,930 3,250 3,480 3,530 3,640 
			 Calderdale 2,500 2,600 2,770 3,000 3,140 3,210 3,380 
			 Kirklees 2,540 2,630 2,800 3,020 3,190 3,270 3,440 
			 Leeds 2,500 2,580 2,730 3,020 3,210 3,300 3,450 
			 Wakefield 2,460 2,520 2,660 2,910 3,060 3,140 3,270 
			 Gateshead 2,480 2,630 2,780 3,080 3,290 3,360 3,560 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 2,780 2,800 2,940 3,250 3,480 3,550 3,710 
			 North Tyneside 2,460 2,540 2,670 2,950 3.140 3,240 3,410 
			 South Tyneside 2,600 2,700 2,860 3,150 3,380 3,450 3,680 
			 Sunderland 2,550 2,640 2,770 3,040 3,260 3,330 3,540 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 2,410 2,490 2,640 2,850 2,970 3,010 3,150 
			 Bristol, City of 2,540 2,610 2,760 3,040 3,220 3,320 3,500 
			 North Somerset 2,460 2,550 2,700 2,910 3,010 3,070 3,200 
			 South Gloucestershire 2,370 2,450 2,590 2,770 2,870 2,920 3,060 
			 Hartlepool 2,550 2,650 2,790 3,050 3,240 3,330 3,580 
			 Middlesbrough 2,680 2,800 2,980 3.250 3,490 3,600 3,820 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 2,570 2,660 2,790 3,070 3,300 3,370 3,570 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 2,520 2,600 2,760 3,050 3,280 3,360 3,560 
			 Kingston Upon Hull, City of 2,670 2,730 2,890 3,190 3,380 3,470 3.660 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 2,440 2,530 2,660 2,900 3,040 3,080 3,170 
			 North East Lincolnshire 2,570 2,660 2,820 3,070 3,250 3,330 3,420 
			 North Lincolnshire 2,530 2,660 2,800 3,040 3,160 3,220 3,380 
			 North Yorkshire 2,490 2,570 2,710 2,940 3,080 3,140 3,270 
			 York 2,430 2,510 2,640 2,890 3,000 3,040 3.120 
			 Bedfordshire 2,590 2,650 2,770 3,030 3,220 3,280 3.340 
			 Luton 2,870 2,900 3,070 3,290 3,480 3,590 3,780 
			 Buckinghamshire 2,660 2,700 2,820 3,040 3.210 3,280 3,380 
			 Milton Keynes 2,790 2,790 2,910 3,130 3,300 3,390 3,510 
			 Derbyshire 2,420 2,500 2,630 2,850 2,970 3,050 3,190 
			 Derby 2,580 2,670 2,850 3,070 3,210 3,310 3,450 
			 Dorset 2,550 2,580 2,690 2,910 3,040 3,090 3,160 
			 Poole 2,540 2,540 2,630 2,810 2,950 3,010 3,110 
			 Bournemouth 2,660 2,670 2,780 3,010 3,110 3,150 3,220 
			 Durham 2,500 2,600 2,750 3,010 3,220 3,260 3,390 
			 Darlington 2,480 2,560 2,720 2,970 3,130 3,180 3.320 
			 East Sussex 2,670 2,750 2,870 3,130 3,290 3,360 3,450 
			 Brighton and Hove 2,740 2,820 2,960 3,220 3,400 3,470 3,580 
			 Hampshire 2,540 2,600 2,700 2,910 3,090 3,150 3,260 
			 Portsmouth 2,690 2,770 2,900 3,110 3,320 3,410 3,530 
			 Southampton 2,750 2,840 2,950 3,180 3,380 3,460 3,590 
			 Leicestershire 2,450 2,500 2,620 2,820 2,940 2,970 3,050 
			 Leicester 2.740 2,830 3,010 3,260 3,440 3,550 3,750 
			 Rutland 2,440 2,520 2,690 2,880 3,050 3,090 3,280 
			 Staffordshire 2,400 2,460 2,580 2,800 2,930 2,980 3,100 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 2,510 2,590 2,720 3,020 3,250 3,350 3,590 
			 Wiltshire 2,520 2,580 2,710 2,920 3,030 3,090 3,240 
			 Swindon 2,560 2,560 2,670 2,870 2,990 3,050 3,220 
			 Bracknell Forest 2,690 2,740 2,830 3,030 3,200 3,280 3,410 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 2,680 2,760 2,860 3,110 3,300 3,360 3,460 
			 West Berkshire 2.520 2,630 2,740 2,990 3,160 3,200 3,390 
			 Reading 2,650 2,770 2,900 3,180 3.350 3,500 3,640 
			 Slough 3,050 3,220 3,370 3,600 3,820 3,950 4,090 
			 Wokingham 2,460 2,520 2,610 2,830 3,000 3,060 3,240 
			 Cambridgeshire 2,460 2,540 2,690 2,890 3,010 3,070 3,250 
			 Peterborough 2,660 2,740 2,910 3,130 3,270 3,360 3,540 
			 Cheshire 2,440 2.500 2,620 2,840 2,970 3,020 3,160 
			 Halton 2,670 2,720 2,860 3,160 3,400 3,490 3,720 
			 Warrington 2,420 2,480 2,590 2,790 2,930 2,990 3,100 
			 Devon 2,610 2,670 2,760 2,970 3,090 3,140 3,260 
			 Plymouth 2,640 2,690 2,790 3,020 3,130 3,210 3,290 
			 Torbay 2,670 2,690 2,790 3,010 3,130 3,180 3,270 
			 Essex 2,690 2,740 2,850 3,080 3,240 3,300 3,410 
			 Southend-on-Sea 2,740 2,780 2,900 3,140 3,330 3,400 3,490 
			 Thurrock 2,830 2,890 3,000 3,220 3,410 3,520 3,640 
			 Herefordshire 2,640 2,680 2,810 3,030 3,150 3,230 3,400 
			 Worcestershire 2,540 2,530 2,620 2,840 2,980 3,030 3,120 
			 Kent 2,650 2,730 2,840 3,080 3,250 3,310 3,410 
			 Medway 2,630 2,700 2,820 3,040 3,200 3,290 3,340 
			 Lancashire 2,530 2,610 2,750 2,990 3,140 3,200 3,300 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 2,680 2,800 3,030 3,280 3,470 3,550 3,790 
			 Blackpool 2,550 2,660 2,780 3,030 3,180 3,290 3,490 
			 Nottinghamshire 2,500 2,540 2,660 2,890 3,020 3,080 3,180 
			 Nottingham 2,820 2,880 3,060 3,350 3,570 3,700 3,840 
			 Shropshire 2,550 2,590 2,720 2,930 3,080 3,150 3,300 
			 Telford and Wrekin 2,610 2,670 2,800 3,050 3,210 3,240 3,380 
			 Cornwall 2,550 2,670 2,800 3,030 3,180 3,240 3,310 
			 Cumbria 2,420 2,560 2,700 2,950 3,130 3,190 3,330 
			 Gloucestershire 2,500 2.560 2,700 2,920 3,050 3,110 3,210 
			 Hertfordshire 2,680 2,720 2,830 3,050 3,210 3,270 3,350 
			 Isle of Wight 2,760 2,840 2,960 3,230 3,410 3,470 3,510 
			 Lincolnshire 2,530 2,620 2,740 2,960 3,120 3,190 3,330 
			 Norfolk 2,590 2,640 2,770 3,000 3,160 3,230 3,330 
			 Northamptonshire 2,470 2,540 2,680 2,890 3,030 3,090 3,250 
			 Northumberland 2,480 2,570 2,700 2,950 3,140 3,180 3,310 
			 Oxfordshire 2,660 2,690 2,810 3,050 3,200 3,270 3,390 
			 Somerset 2,510 2,570 2,710 2,940 3,070 3,130 3,250 
			 Suffolk 2,550 2,570 2,690 2,900 3,050 3,100 3,180 
			 Surrey 2,660 2,700 2,810 3,010 3,180 3,240 3,330 
			 Warwickshire 2,420 2,510 2,650 2,850 2,980 3,060 3,220 
			 West Sussex 2,670 2,680 2,770 2,980 3,140 3,210 3,310 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures reflect education Standard Spending Assessment/Education Formula Spending (SSA/EFS) settlement and revenue grants in DfES Departmental Expenditure Limits relevant to EFS pupils aged 3 to 15.
	2. Figures exclude EMAs and grants not allocated at LEA level and the pensions transfer to EFS and Learning Skills Council (LSC) for 2003–04.
	3. The pupil numbers used are those underlying the SSA/EFS settlement calculations plus PLASC 3-year-old maintained pupils and estimated 3–4 year olds funded through state support in maintained and other educational institutions where these are not included in the SSA pupil numbers.
	4. 1997–98 figures for LEAs subject to Local Government Re-organisation (LGR) in that year have been estimated, pro-rata to their post LGR figures.
	5. 2003–04 and 2002–03 figures are provisional estimates as some grants have not yet been finalised/audited.
	6. Real terms figures are based on GDP deflators as at 26 March 2004 (2002–03 prices).
	7. Per pupil figures are rounded to the nearest 10 so may not sum.

Examination Boards

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Romford of 4 May 2004, Official Report, column 1424W, on examination boards, how the £100 million will be allocated over the next two years in order to ensure the modernisation and safe delivery of the examination system.

David Miliband: holding answer 14 June 2004
	The money has been allocated to the examinations modernisation programme as follows:
	
		£ million
		
			  2004–05 2005–06 
		
		
			 Increasing examiner fees and improving marking quality 24 24 
			 Securing improved and consolidated physical logistics 7 6 
			 Reducing the administrative burden on exams offices 5 6 
			 Improving exams office procedures and equipment 10 7 
			 Improving use of technology in exams administration 8 3

Examination Entries

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent by schools on examination entries in each year since 1997.

David Miliband: holding answer 14 June 2004
	In 2002–03, maintained primary, secondary and special schools in England spent £155 million on examination fees. This covers the costs of test and examination entry fees and any accreditation costs related to pupils, and includes GCSEs, A/AS levels and GNVQs.
	It was only in 2002–03 that the Department began collecting information in sufficient detail to answer this question. Therefore, no comparable data is available for previous years.

Further Education (Staff)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many full-time equivalent staff have been employed by further education colleges in each year since 1995.

Alan Johnson: The information requested is routinely published by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) in Staff Statistics. These volumes can be downloaded from the LSC website:
	http://www.lsc.gov.uk/National/Partners/Data/Statistics/StaffStatistics/StaffStatistics.htm.
	A paper copy of the most recent edition of "Staff Statistics" will be placed in the Library.

Learning and Skills Council (Merseyside)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills why the Learning and Skills Council on Merseyside has not informed the further education colleges of their 2004–05 budget.

Alan Johnson: The Learning and Skills Council has delayed confirming the allocation of budgets to further education colleges for the academic year starting in August 2004 while it concludes an assessment of its budget commitments in the financial year 2004–05. I expect that the LSC will shortly be in a position to conclude its allocation process.

Learning and Skills Development Agency

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  if he will list the work carried out by the Learning and Skills Development Agency on behalf of the (a) Learning and Skills Council and (b) Government;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the budget of the Learning and Skills Development Agency.

Ivan Lewis: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Development Agency. Chris Hughes, the Chief Executive, will write to the hon. Gentleman with this information and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

Office for Fair Access

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the planned (a) full-time equivalent headcount and (b) funding allocations for the Office for Fair Access are in each of the first three years of its existence.

Alan Johnson: As we set out in the Regulatory Impact Assessment which we republished on 1 April 2004, we estimate the cost of the Office for Fair Access will average around £500,000 per year, which includes staffing needs. The Office has not yet been established and it is not possible at this stage to provide a full-time equivalent headcount.

Overseas Universities (UK)

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many overseas universities accredited outside the UK were operating in the UK in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: These figures are not kept centrally. Overseas universities accredited outside the UK are free to offer their own awards in the UK provided that they make it clear that in doing so they are not offering qualifications from a UK institution and that accreditation is from overseas. Overseas universities wishing to operate campuses in the UK must apply to the Privy Council Office for permission to use university title for that operation in the UK.

Performance Tables

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total cost was of producing and publishing the most recent (a) primary school performance tables of achievements in Key Stage 2 tests, (b) secondary school performance tables of achievements in Key Stage 3 tests, (c) secondary school performance tables of achievements in GCSE examinations and vocational qualifications, (d) school and college performance tables of achievements in A/AS examinations and vocational qualifications, (e) pilot tables testing the calculation and presentation of a Key Stage 2-GCSE/GNVQ value added measure and (f) pilot tables testing the reporting of achievements in all approved qualifications at age 16 years.

David Miliband: holding answer 14 June 2004
	The costs of producing and publishing the most recent (2003) school and college performance tables were as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 (a) Primary school performance tables of achievements in Key Stage 2 tests 0.47 
			 (b) Secondary school performance tables of achievements in Key Stage 3 tests 1/2  
			 (c) Secondary school performance tables of achievements in GCSE examinations and vocational qualifications 1.66 
			 (d) School and college performance tables of achievements in A/AS examinations and vocational qualifications1/2  
			 (e) Pilot tables testing the calculation and presentation of a Key Stage 2-GCSE/GNVQ value added measure 0.10 
			 (f) Pilot tables testing the reporting of achievements in all approved qualifications at age 16 0.11 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The figures shown above are programme costs and do not include departmental staff costs.
	2. The costs for QCA's data collection are not included in the figures shown above.
	3. The secondary school performance tables of achievements in Key Stage 3 tests, the secondary school performance tables of achievements in GCSE examinations and vocational qualifications and the school and college performance tables of achievements in A/AS examinations and vocational qualifications are managed as one exercise so there are no separate costings.

Post-16 Education

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps his Department is taking to increase the staying on rate of children over the age of 16 years.

Ivan Lewis: We are tackling the causes of low participation at post-16 through our 14–19 strategy by providing a more flexible, coherent and better quality 14–19 curriculum; quality advice and guidance; and additional financial support.
	This includes: offering greater flexibility at Key Stage 4 and more vocational subjects at GCSE; introducing an entitlement to an apprenticeship place for all 16 to 17 year olds with five GCSEs at grades A-G, including Maths and English, from September 2004; and providing impartial advice and guidance to 13 to 19 years olds through our national Connexions Service. We have also introduced Education Maintenance Allowances across the country from September 2004, after extensive piloting which showed a strong impact on participation rates, increased participation among the eligible group of 5.9 percentage points.
	The Working Group on 14–19 Reform, led by Mike Tomlinson, is seeking to tackle low post-16 participation and achievement. In their interim report, published in February, they propose a diploma framework consisting of high-quality programmes and progression opportunities so that young people are motivated to continue learning. The final report is expected in the autumn.

Probationary Teachers

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action he has taken to counsel and support probationary teachers in the school environment; and how much money he has dedicated for such counselling and support.

David Miliband: All Newly Qualified Teachers receive an individually tailored programme of guidance, monitoring, assessment and support for their induction. This involves a tutor and a 10 per cent. reduction to their teaching timetable. Funding for induction is part of Education Formula Spending, not separately ring-fenced.

Pupil Costs (Staffordshire)

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much it cost to educate a pupil in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in Staffordshire in 2003–04.

David Miliband: The latest date for which this information is available is 2002–03 and is given in the table. The information requested for 2003–04 will not be collected by the Department until October 2004 but I will write to the hon. Member when it is available.
	
		2002–03
		
			  Net current expenditure per pupil 
		
		
			 Primary Education 2,680 
			 Secondary Education 3,270 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The financial data are taken from Staffordshire LEA's Section 52 Outturn Statement submitted to the DfES. 2002–03 data is subject to change by the LEA. Figures are rounded to the nearest £10.
	2. The outturn 2002–03 tables captured the data in a fundamentally different way to the previous years. Categories were aligned with the Consistent Financial Reporting framework and the spending by LEAs was no longer split by school sector. Consequently the unit costs per pupil in 2002–03 are not strictly comparable with earlier years as they are calculated differently and include an apportionment of LEA expenditure based on pupil numbers.
	3. Net current expenditure (NCE) includes expenditure within schools and also that incurred centrally by the LEA.
	4. The NCE per pupil figures for primary relate the net current expenditure (after recharges) in the maintained primary schools to the total number of financial year pupils who are educated in the maintained primary schools sector.
	5. The NCE per pupil figures for secondary relate the net current expenditure (after recharges) in maintained secondary schools to the total number of financial year pupils who are educated in the maintained secondary schools sector.
	6. Pupil data are drawn from the Annual Schools Census adjusted to be on a financial year basis.

School Absences

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the relationship between levels of authorised and unauthorised absence from school.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 20 May 2004
	In general, there is a statistically positive relationship between authorised and unauthorised absence levels in schools. There is a tendency for schools with low levels of authorised absence to also have low levels of unauthorised absence and vice versa. The relationship is stronger for secondary schools than for primary schools and, in both sectors, there are numerous exceptions to the general rule.
	The latest detailed published analysis of the relationship can be found in the Department's Statistical Bulletin 13/01 "Pupil absence and truancy from schools in England, 2000/2001". Paragraphs 14 to 16 and Tables 4 and 5 of this Bulletin are particularly relevant. A copy has been placed in the Library. It is also available at www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SBU/b000309/index.shtml Furthermore, when concerted action is taken to tackle absences, it is usual to see an increase in unauthorised absences. This is due to schools taking a stricter stance on authorising absences leading to more absences being classed as "unauthorised". In turn, schools will see an increase in attendance levels: (i) as pupils and parents come to understand that certain types of absence will no longer be tolerated; and (ii) as this clearer identification of truants leads to speedier interventions and return to the classroom. More schools are adopting this approach: 2002–03 saw the highest level of school attendance on record—93.17 per cent.—with schools identifying more truants than previously, but with the average number of sessions missed by each secondary school truant falling to 15—a decrease of 25 per cent. since 1997.
	We have made it clear that in response to a consensus view among schools and LEAs, it is our intention to measure attendance once the period for the current national Public Service Agreement target ends.

School Budget Deficits

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools have reported a set budget deficit for this year.

David Miliband: The information requested is not yet available. The Department is due to collect the data relating to 2003–04 financial year from October 2004.

Schools (Leyton and Wanstead)

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the main improvements have been at each school in Leyton and Wanstead since 2000.

David Miliband: The constituency Leyton and Wanstead covers part of both Waltham Forest and Redbridge local education authorities. Performance level information has been supplied for each school within this constituency.
	
		Table 1: Key Stage 2 test results of all pupils in maintained schools in Leyton and Wanstead parliamentary constituency -- Percentage of pupils achieving level 4 or above
		
			2003 2002 
			 DfES number School name Type of establishment English Maths Science English Maths Science 
		
		
			 3172042 Aldersbrook Primary School Community 69 67 82 91 75 93 
			 3172054 Snaresbrook Primary School Community 78 80 83 69 75 87 
			 3173300 Wanstead Church School Voluntary aided 100 81 100 94 87 97 
			 3173504 Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School Voluntary aided 89 84 100 93 93 97 
			 3202008 Barclay Junior School Community 68 70 83 53 54 74 
			 3202012 Church Mead Junior School Community 57 57 70 61 62 80 
			 3202014 Davies Lane Junior School Community 43 37 55 43 36 57 
			 3202022 Newport Junior School Community 63 56 70 68 49 73 
			 3202065 The Beaumont School Community 47 42 53 41 35 51 
			 3202067 Dawlish Primary School Community 87 87 100 72 67 89 
			 3202069 Gwyn Jones Primary School Community 70 77 90 86 83 91 
			 3202072 George Tomlinson Primary School Community 80 66 92 77 82 97 
			 3202077 Cann Hall Primary School Community 65 73 93 68 85 96 
			 3202079 Jenny Hammond School Community 75 92 100 86 86 96 
			 3202084 Mayville Primary School Community 42 60 60 — — — 
			 3203301 St Joseph's Catholic Junior School Voluntary aided 94 89 93 93 100 100 
		
	
	
		Percentage of pupils achieving level 4 or above
		
			2001 2000 
			 DfES Number School name Type of establishment English Maths Science English Maths Science 
		
		
			 3172042 Aldersbrook Primary School Community 68 56 79 83 76 89 
			 3172054 Snaresbrook Primary School Community 91 88 97 82 84 91 
			 3173300 Wanstead Church School Voluntary aided 91 88 97 94 97 97 
			 3173504 Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School Voluntary aided 92 80 100 93 84 98 
			 3202008 Barclay Junior School Community 69 57 78 44 44 61 
			 3202012 Church Mead Junior School Community 54 53 75 67 78 93 
			 3202014 Davies Lane Junior School Community 38 37 54 61 50 60 
			 3202022 Newport Junior School Community 67 49 62 51 39 51 
			 3202065 The Beaumont School Community 68 62 81 71 74 81 
			 3202067 Dawlish Primary School Community 82 82 100 74 74 88 
			 3202069 Gwyn Jones Primary School Community 88 73 82 82 65 85 
			 3202072 George Tomlinson Primary School Community 67 61 92 69 67 64 
			 3202077 Cann Hall Primary School Community 62 70 85 74 79 93 
			 3202079 Jenny Hammond School Community 83 93 97 — — — 
			 3202084 Mayville Primary School Community — — — — — — 
			 3203301 St Joseph's Catholic Junior School Voluntary aided 98 98 100 83 85 92 
		
	
	Note:
	3202017 Downsell Primary is not included on the table as it recently amalgamated and previous results relate to the Junior School.
	
		Table 2: Key Stage 3 assessments tests results of pupils in all maintained schools in Leyton Wanstead parliamentary constituency -- Percentage achieving level 5 or above 2003
		
			2003 2002 
			 DfES number School names Type of establishment English Maths Science English Maths Science 
		
		
			 3174021 Wanstead High School Community 70 74 74 79 71 67 
			 3204059 Tom Hood School Community 44 56 56 46 63 50 
			 3204061 Connaught School for Girls Community 73 61 58 79 77 80 
			 3204062 George Mitchell Community School Community 32 44 42 - 99 97 
			 3204064 Norlington School for Boys Community 43 68 58 35 41 38 
			 3204069 Leytonstone School Community 58 65 61 0 0 0 
			 3207011 Belmont Park School Community Special 25 75 75 56 50 63 
		
	
	
		Percentage achieving level 5 or above 2003
		
			2002 2003 
			 DfES number School names Type of establishment KS2-KS3 VA measure KS2-KS3 VA measure 
		
		
			 3174021 Wanstead High School Community 100.1 99.6 
			 3204059 Tom Hood School Community 99.6 99.7 
			 3204061 Connaught School for Girls Community 101.8 101.8 
			 3204062 George Mitchell Community School Community 100.1 97.8 
			 3204064 Norlington School for Boys Community 99.9 99.1 
			 3204069 Leytonstone School Community 100.8 99.5 
			 3207011 Belmont Park School Community Special 102.7 107.5 
		
	
	Notes:
	2002 figures are based on data checked by schools as part of the Performance Tables checking exercise.
	Prior to this schools did not have the opportunity to check and correct their underlying data and therefore figures prior to 2002 should not be released.
	In 2002 pupils with missing results were included within the denominator for calculations while in previous years they were excluded.
	
		Table 3: GCSE/GNVQ results of 15 year old pupils in all maintained schools in Leyton and Wanstead parliamentary constituency -- Percentage of 15 year old achieving five or more grades A* -C
		
			 DfES number School name Type of establishment 2003 2002 2001 2000 
		
		
			 3174021 Wanstead High School Community 56 51 5 54 
			 3204059 Tom Hood School Community 40 45 42 38 
			 3204061 Connaught School for Girls Community 64 64 59 48 
			 3204062 George Mitchell Community School Community 33 20 24 33 
			 3204064 Norlington School for Boys Community 44 44 34 39 
			 3204069 Leytonstone School Community 50 48 47 42 
		
	
	
		Percentage of 15 year old achieving five or more grades A* -C
		
			   DfES numberSchool name   Type of establishment KS3-GCSE/GNVQ VA measure 2002 KS3-GCSE/GNVC VA measure 2003 
		
		
			 3174021 Wanstead High School Community 101.5 99.2 
			 3204059 Tom Hood School Community 101.4 99.3 
			 3204061 Connaught School for Girls Community 104.2 102.6 
			 3204062 George Mitchell Community School Community 100.4 105.4 
			 3204064 Norlington School for Boys Community 101.6 101.2 
			 3204069 Leytonstone School Community 101.6 100.8 
		
	
	
		Table 4: Post 16 results 2000—2003 in Leyton and Wanstead parliamentary constituency
		
			 School name 2002 2001 2000 
		
		
			 Wanstead high school
			 Average points per student for GCE and VCE results 237.6 — — 
			 Percentage of students achieving Intermediate VQ Qualification 80 — — 
			 Average points per student for combined  A/AS/AGNV — 14.3 — 
			 Average points for fewer than 2 A/AS levels — — 3.7 
			 Average points for 2 or more A/AS levels — — 14 
			 Advanced GNVQs — — 10.5 
		
	
	Notes:
	GCE A/AS examinations and advanced GNVQs
	The basis for post 16 performances changed in 2001 and again in 2002.
	The 2001 and 2002 performance results cannot therefore be compared to previous years.
	2003 Post 16 Performance
	The basis for post 16 performances for 2003 has changed and cannot therefore be compared to previous years.
	However, Wanstead High School average point score at 215.9 average point score per pupil for GCE and VCE results is below both Redbridge LEA (249.0) and England averages (258.6).

Sector Skills Councils

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of Sector Skills Councils in addressing the skills gap.

Ivan Lewis: There has been significant progress in establishing the Skills for Business network of Sector Skills Councils with 18 councils now licensed or recommended for licence. The Sector Skills Development Agency has been working with the developing Skills for Business network to agree a performance monitoring and evaluation framework to evaluate its performance over time against its policy objectives. That framework is now in place.
	The first phase of the evaluation is now complete. It has shown that Sector Skills Councils are making good progress in analysing the skills gap in each of their sectors. The evaluation has provided baseline performance information so that the effectiveness of SSCs and the broader network can be tracked over time. The evaluation has further provided early information on emerging good practice and continuous improvement which will help to assess future impact.

Sex Education

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what recent guidelines his Department has issued to schools on sex education.

Stephen Twigg: The Department provided sex and relationship education guidance to all maintained schools in July 2000.
	Responsibility for determining sex and relationship education in schools rests with governing bodies and head teachers, having regard to the guidance.

Skills for Life Strategy

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the Skills for Life strategy.

Ivan Lewis: We are on track to meet our target of 750,000 adults with better basic skills by 2004 and will be reporting on progress towards this in the autumn. From April 2001 to July 2004, a projected 2.3 million learners will have taken up an estimated 4.6 million learning opportunities. We remain focused on achieving our PSA target of 1.5 million adults with better basic skills by 2007.
	We continue to engage employers, public sector organisations and others in initiatives within the Skills for Life strategy. The Skilled for Health joint project with the Department of Health continues to help adults gain a better understanding of their own health as well as improving their basic skills. The Link Up project, co-funded with the Home Office, recruited 6,410 volunteers as Adult Learner Supporters. The Learning and Skills Council Skills for Life Quality Initiative has provided Leadership and Management Training to 1,310 staff, provided 1,200 people with funding for new teaching qualifications and trained 1,266 teachers in the basic skills Core Curriculum.

Skills for Life Strategy

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether the Skills for Life strategy has met its target of 750,000 adults to achieve a national certificate by 2004.

Ivan Lewis: We are on track to meet our target of 750,000 adults with better basic skills by 2004 and will be reporting on progress towards this in the autumn. We remain focused on the achieving our PSA target of 1.5 million adults with better basic skills by 2007.

Unique Learner Number

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what a unique learner number is.

Ivan Lewis: My Department is exploring the idea of a unique learner number for every individual involved in lifelong learning. This would improve the flow of information between schools, further education and higher education. The aim being to simplify application processes and enable learning providers to improve the services they offer. We are considering the associated benefits, costs and privacy issues.

Universities and Colleges Admissions Service

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what checks are made by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service to ensure that applications to university are not bogus.

Alan Johnson: The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) is the central agency through which applications for places at universities and colleges in the UK are processed. The Verification Unit was established in 1996 in order to raise awareness of fraud within its constituent institutions and to introduce measures to combat fraud in the applications processing system. The Verification Unit is committed to a policy of ensuring that applications received through the UCAS, the Social Work Admissions System (SWAS), the Nursing Midwifery Admissions Service (NMAS) and the Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR) are from genuine applicants seeking places in higher education.
	Higher education institutions will also undertake their own verification checks before applicants are allowed to enrol.